Things a Baby Should Do at Two Months

By the time your baby enters her second month, she is developing many new skills that she will use for the rest of her life. While each infant develops differently, most infants discover new physical and social skills at this age and improve their sensory abilities and sleep habits. Talk to your child's doctor if you are concerned about your baby meeting any of these developmental milestones.

  1. Physical Development

    • Two-month-old babies begin to strengthen their leg muscles in preparation for rolling over, and some may be able to roll from their stomach or back to their side, though most are unable to completely roll over at this time. Your baby is also developing his neck strength and the ability to pick his head up and look around during his second month, and he should be able to hold it up for several seconds by the end of the month.

    Social Development

    • During the second month, most babies learn to differentiate voices and other noises and are able to turn toward you when you speak. Babies at this age often enjoy watching people talk and are eager to make friends with everyone, smiling at both new and familiar people. Your baby may also express her friendly nature by holding out her arms in an attempt to be picked up.

    Sensory Skills

    • As your baby's senses develop during month two, he gains the ability to recognize familiar faces and follow your movements or those of a favorite toy. His interest in a greater range of colors, patterns and designs develops around this time, as does his ability to explore a range of textures with his hands. As his senses of touch and sound develop, he should be able to hold a small rattle in his hand and listen to its noise.

    Sleep Habits

    • At 2 months, baby sleep habits typically begin to settle into a pattern, with most babies sleeping longer during the night and for shorter periods during the day. Babies at this age frequently wake up several times throughout the night and stay awake for a total of 10 hours each day. Your baby's sleep habits at this age may indicate her preferences throughout childhood, as 2-month-olds who are awake late at night or sleep for long periods of time often continue this pattern as they grow.

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