Learn how your 2 month old newborn sees, feels, hears, and understands the world. From physical changes to sensory, cognitive, social and emotional developments – we’ll go through all the details. You will also start to interact more and more with your baby this month, we share some developmental activities for your 2 month old baby to keep them stimulated.
Developmental Milestones
A developmental milestone, as defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is something that 75% or more children do by a certain age.
growth
Any weight loss will have been recovered by the end of month one. Your baby will be gaining weight steadily now, typically 1.5 to 2 lbs (600 to 900 g) per month. Your baby will also be growing taller (or longer). During the second month you can expect your baby to grow 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm). Your baby is likely not sleeping through the night yet, but hopefully they are getting in some longer stretches.
movement
While there are still some reflexes in place, they begin to fade near the end of month two. The gripping reflex – if you stroke their palm or the bottom of their foot, you will see their fingers or toes curl in – is still very active. However, you may notice that your baby will briefly open their hands. The moro reflex, or startle reflex, where infants stretch out their arms and legs in response to a sudden movement or loud noise – will begin to fade at the end of month two.
communication skills
Infants communicate through cries, coos, and facial expressions. By the end of month two, babies may start to coo and babble. They generally start experimenting with vowel-like sounds and you might notice that they will “respond” to you as if in conversation. These exchanges and early sounds pave the way for future language development.
sensory
Your baby can still only see clearly up to about one foot (30cm) from their face. But this is enough for them, as it is the typical distance between them and their caregiver during feeding and bonding interactions. Your baby can more easily see high contrast patterns and bright colors. Bold, contrasting colors such as black and white or primary colors like red, blue, and yellow often capture their attention. You might also notice that your baby can track moving objects. Be sure to move any object slowly and not too far from their face so that they can follow along.
cognitive
Your infant’s ability to track objects with their eyes shows the brain developments that are occurring inside. You may also notice that they express themselves, by being fussy or crying, if they are bored. Your baby pays special attention to the different faces that they see. These are all signs of brain development.
social interactions
Even though newborns are still limited in social interactions, by the end of the second month, they show early signs of social engagement and interest. You may notice your baby making eye contact with you and looking at your face, smiling in response to your smile, or showing signs of happiness when they see you or interact with you.
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2 month old baby activities
one
Sensory Play
Your baby is discovering their hands and explores the world with their mouth at this age. You can choose soft, crinkly, lightweight toys that they can explore with their hands and with their mouth. Our favorite are easy to clean, super lightweight, and easy to hold on to, here’s our favorite is from Oball.
two
Face-to-face time
Your two month old is fascinated by faces. Spending time making eye contact with your baby and responding to their facial expressions as if in conversation is a great way to reinforce your bond and to support their emotional development. Remember that your baby cannot see too far away so stay within arm’s reach when you are facetiming.
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Three
Mirror Play
Your baby may also like to look in the mirror and will start to see their reflection. By encouraging your baby to interact with a mirror they will develop self-awareness and visual recognition skills. You can also position a small mirror above them on their changing table so that they can amuse themselves during diaper changes.
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Get outside
Getting outside is always high on our recommendation list because it benefits the baby and you! Fresh air, sunshine, and a changing scenery will stimulate your baby’s senses and promote their cognitive development. You can narrate a bit, if there is a dog who barks or it is cold outside, for example, but don’t feel the need to narrate all aspects of the walk outside. Just enjoy what nature has to offer and your baby will too!
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