Activities for a 2-Month-Old Infant

Although it may seem that a 2-month-old infant can't do interesting things yet, several age-appropriate activities can both entertain the baby and help him develop. By playing, observing and exploring the world, the infant learns and grows. Some activities don't even require participation, giving the parent or caregiver a bit of time to rest or accomplish other tasks.

  1. Playing with Toys

    • Give your infant a toy to hold, such as a rattle or a small stuffed animal. According to the pamphlet "Healthy Start, Grow Smart" -- published by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services -- your 2-month-old's hands can now grasp a toy and shake it, her eyes can focus on it and her brain finds it intriguing. Playing with toys helps enhance the baby's senses, strengthen her muscles and improve her dexterity, explains the University of Delaware.Offer the baby various items with different textures, colors and sounds to engage her senses.

    Watching the World

    • By 2 months, your baby's eyes have developed considerably. He can now focus on things around him, watch you walk across the room and recognize certain people. Accordingly, he now enjoys watching you work or looking at the leaves of a tree wave in the wind.

      Your baby also likes looking at toys, so try using a mobile or dangle toys in front of him and move them in slow patterns. This type of activity, explains the University of Delaware, both entertains the baby and strengthens his eye muscles.

    Tummy Time

    • Place your 2-month-old on her stomach and let her play for a few minutes. When lying on her back, she can see the world easily, but when lying on her belly, she must lift her head in order to get a good view. As a result, explains KidsHealth, spending time on her stomach helps strengthen her neck muscles, which are still fairly weak at 2 months. Tummy time also encourages the infant to think about crawling.

      Put toys where the baby can see them, but can't quite reach them. This will help catch the baby's interest in keeping her head up, wiggling her hands and feet and enjoying the experience. Always supervise your baby's tummy time, advises KidsHealth, and only do it when she's awake.

    Listening and Communicating

    • Talk, sing and read to your baby: he loves to hear your voice. Use simple language, a pleasant tone and expressive gestures, instructs "Healthy Start, Grow Smart." Ask questions and narrate your actions. By listening to you, your infant will learn new words, begin to communicate, start grasping the importance of language and discover the joys of eye contact and interpersonal connection.

      Position your face 10 inches from the baby's face and experiment with different sounds and tones. Observe your baby's responses so you can figure out what he likes, maintain a connection with him and enjoy his attempts at mimicking and communicating.

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