Reaching the second month of life is a significant milestone not only for your baby, but also for you as a parent. You’ve survived the first few months at home with a newborn and are starting to grow your parenting legs. With each new month, you may wonder what’s next for your baby’s growth and development. This article will help you understand what new milestones a two-month-old will reach, how much he or she should eat and sleep, and what activities you can do with a two-month-old.
Every month your baby learns more and more skills that will advance him on his developmental path. As your 2-month-old grows, these are some of the developmental milestones he or she should reach:1
- Hold his head up when lying on his stomach
- Move both arms and legs evenly
- Open and close your hands briefly
- Watch others move or walk around
- Focus on your face or a toy for several seconds
- Making noises other than crying, such as cooing
- Calms down when you talk to him or pick him up
- Smiling at you when you talk to them or smile at them
- Respond to loud noises
From 2 months onwards, your baby will have a more predictable feeding schedule than as a newborn. They still feed every two to four hours during the day, but this is more predictable and may include a longer period of time between feedings at night. 2-month-olds typically eat 4 to 5 ounces of formula or breast milk at each feeding.2
For most 2 month old babies it is Hunger Clues resemble those of a newborn. These include:3
- Always put your hands in front of your mouth
- Turn your head towards your breast or bottle teat
- They curl, smack, or lick their lips
- They clenched their hands
Many babies cry when they are hungry, but this is also a late sign of hunger. As your baby reaches 2 months, you will be better able to recognize his hunger signals to avoid hitting that late hunger cue.3
Even if your baby has started to delay the time between meals, it is important to monitor him Sign of abundance and for signs that they are getting enough to eat. Signs of bloating include:3
- Close your mouth when the breast or bottle teat is presented
- Turn your head away from the breast or bottle teat
- Push the breast or bottle away
- Relax your hands
Your newborn will drink more frequently as he or she goes through a growth spurt, and it may be difficult to know if he or she is getting enough to eat. The best way to determine this is to check the diaper. Your baby should have at least five to six wet diapers a day and poop regularly. Some babies poop multiple times a day, while others go several days between bowel movements. As long as your baby is getting the normal number of wet and poopy diapers per day and gaining weight accordingly, you know he’s getting enough to eat.2
Many parents ask: “When do babies start sleeping through the night?” And for most babies, this doesn’t happen until the third month or later. Sleeping through the night typically means sleeping for six to eight hours without waking up. Babies under three months old cannot go as long between feedings, so it is to be expected that they will wake up during the night.4
As your baby moves out of the newborn stage, he or she develops a new sleep pattern. Most babies by the age of two months sleep about 14 to 17 hours a day, divided into two to three naps a day and a longer period of sleep at night.5 Many breastfed babies can sleep four to five hours between nighttime feedings, while many formula-fed babies sleep five to six hours between nighttime feedings.6 Don’t be alarmed if your baby wakes up more often at night than expected; This is completely normal for a 2 month old child wake up several times a night as they continue to develop their sleep schedule.
Even if your 2-month-old has a more predictable sleep schedule, some babies still have difficulty or only sleep when held. To help your baby get used to sleeping in a crib, put him or her in the crib just before he or she falls asleep. This will help them get used to sleeping without being held.11
Even at two months old, your baby’s daily routine is largely determined by his sleeping and feeding schedule. Their feeding and sleeping schedule may be more predictable than as a newborn, but that doesn’t mean they will stick to a strict schedule. Trying to stick to a strict daily schedule can lead to stress and frustration. Your baby’s preferred sleeping or feeding times may change daily as they grow, and that’s okay!
When your baby reaches the second month of life, he will be examined by his pediatrician. During this visit, your pediatrician will monitor the child’s weight gain, perform a physical and developmental exam, and discuss any problems Vaccinations Your child might need it.7
Monitoring your baby’s weight will be a priority during these visits for your child’s benefit. While many parents want to know the average weight of a 2-month-old child, this number is difficult to determine. Every baby is born at a different rate and has its own growth patterns. Most babies gain about 1 ounce daily, but this can vary. Your doctor will monitor your baby’s weight to make sure he or she is growing evenly.13
Many parents have heard about the bi-monthly vaccinations, but may not know what these vaccinations are. Vaccinations that a baby receives at two months of age include:8th
- Hepatitis B vaccination
- Rotavirus vaccine
- Vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (DTaP)
- Haemophilus influenza type B vaccine (Hib)
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Inactivate polio vaccine
Although this may seem like a lot of vaccinations to give at the same time, it is completely safe for your baby to receive them at their two-month milestone visit. Many of these vaccines are combined to reduce the number of vaccinations required and are typically given as three intramuscular injections (usually in the thigh) and one as an oral vaccine. Please talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about the vaccinations your baby may receive.8th
Your baby’s well-being visit is the perfect time to address any concerns you may have about your baby’s nutrition, development, or general health. Some concerns to let your pediatrician know about include:9
- Your baby is having difficulty feeding or cannot eat enough
- They don’t react to loud noises
- They are unable to follow objects or faces with their eyes
- Your arms, legs, or both appear stiff or limp
Small babies are more susceptible to illness because their immune systems have not yet had time to fully develop. The most common illnesses to watch out for in your baby include:7
- Diarrhea or vomiting leading to dehydration
- Increased irritability accompanied by fever or rash
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory infections such as a cold
- A Fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not common and indicates that your baby needs to be seen by his doctor immediately
As your baby enters the second month, he or she will be more alert. A 2 month old child Wake window can take up to two hours.12 This extended period of wakefulness gives you and your 2-month-old plenty of time to work on his or her developmental milestones. Fun activities you can do with your baby include:1
- They shake a rattle next to their head and see if they can listen for the sound
- Imitates your baby’s sounds
- Let your baby look at himself in the mirror
- Encouragingly cared for Tummy time with toys in front of him at eye level
- Talk to your baby while feeding, changing, and bathing him
- Cuddle and hold your baby
Having a newborn and keeping them safe from danger can be overwhelming. At this age, babies cannot yet move independently. However, that does not mean that security measures do not need to be taken. At this age, safety is all about protecting your baby’s environment. This may include:10
- Do not drink hot liquids while holding your baby
- Use a playpen to keep them in a safe place
- Do not use baby walkers
- Use toys that don’t fall apart, don’t have sharp edges, or aren’t smaller than your baby’s mouth
- Set your water heater to less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit
- Do not leave your baby unattended with siblings or pets
- Don’t leave your baby alone in a place where he or she can fall, such as the couch or bed
The second month of your baby’s life is full of growth. It’s so much fun watching them reach their two month old milestones, thrive, and develop new skills every day. Your baby has grown a lot in the first few months of his life and some of the most exciting phases are still ahead!
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