2 Months – Mutual adjustment and establishing routines

Communicating

What’s New? 

The first thing you may notice during this period is that your baby cries more than she used to in the first days after birth. This is expected during the second month of development, and it will continue during the third month.  It actually means that your baby is learning to communicate with you. Her cries are more distinct now — different cries to indicate her hunger, discomfort, or tiredness.  You will also begin to notice that she is making cooing sounds (may be “ooh” or “aah”) and gurgles. 

And What Can You Do to Help?

 It will take her a while to make sure you understand the way she communicates, so it is important to respond to your baby’s cry every time. Speak to your baby clearly and slowly when your baby makes a sound, express joy with your facial expressions and voice and repeat her sounds.               

Feelings

What’s New?

Your baby has developed a relationship with you and recognizes you - mostly by your smell and voice.  She tries to look for you and other special people. During this period, she may already respond to you with her first smile — a magical moment.  

She will generally become more sensitive to sounds during the second month - not only will she recognise you when you speak to her, but she will also respond to your voice by looking for your face when you talk to her. She still needs your comfort, of course, but she is becoming able to comfort herself, for example by putting her fist in her mouth. 

And What Can You Do to Help?

Whenever you respond by satisfying your baby's need - feeding her, changing her wet clothes, or  reaching out to her with your voice and touch - she will feel comforted and safe.  Always soothe your baby by speaking in a soft voice, gentle touching, rocking or singing. Your baby likes to be near you. She likes to look around and listen. Rock her, sing and talk to her,  use baby talk, and play with her often. Pay attention to what pleases her and what soothes her.  Help her learn to calm herself — it is fine for her to suck on her fingers. 

Thinking

What’s New? 

She is learning a lot through her eyes – for example, she follows interesting objects with her eyes.  She is curious about faces she sees, which are another source of new information for your baby.  She may start being bored and fussy if an activity does not change, or overstimulated if there is too much change.

And What Can You Do to Help?

When your baby is on her tummy, you can put a toy with bright colours in front of her and move it from one side to the other. If your baby starts complaining, turning her head to the side or crying during playing, it can be a sign of excessive stimulation. You may need to slow down the play a little or take a break.  However, you can also observe whether perhaps she is a bit bored and will enjoy a new activity or just being carried to a different part of the room.  You know your baby best!  You can offer your baby different things that she can look at, touch and hold in her hand. When she is lying on her back, hold a toy or rattle above her head, at eye level, and encourage her to reach for it.  This is a new and interesting problem for her to solve.

Moving

What’s New?

By the end of the second month,  your baby’s motor skills become better and better.   Children develop on different timelines, but during this period, she will probably be able to lift her head and move it from side to side when she is on her tummy.  Her arm and leg movements are smoother and more coordinated than when she was a newborn.  It is interesting for her to discover her body, so her hands and fingers will probably be the most amusing for her in this period. For example, she will explore her hands by looking at them, putting them together and separating them, and with your help, she will be able to hold an object in her hands.

And What Can You Do to Help?

 Put your baby on her tummy when she is awake, with interesting, safe objects near her.  Stroke and massage your baby - you will encourage her motor development.  At the same time, you will bond with her and be able to comfort her if she is distressed.  

To find many more ways on how to support child development through play, go to Playing Together section.

Parents’ concerns about development during the 2nd month 

Because each child develops in her own particular way, it is impossible to predict exactly when or how your own child will perfect a certain skill. The abilities (developmental milestones) expected and listed for this period give you only a general idea of the changes you might expect as your child gets older.  Please do not be worried if her development takes a slightly different path.

However, to be sure, do talk with your pediatrician [or other health provider] if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay, if your child seems to have lost some of the skills she had at an earlier age, or if you have other reasons to be concerned:

• The baby frequently cries a lot, and you are not usually able to soothe her   
• she isn't watching faces even for a short time   
• she isn't responding to bright light or loud sounds   
• she isn't feeding or sleeping well (or sleeps more than 16 hours a day)   
• she isn't moving her arms or legs at all
• she isn't bringing her hands to her mouth   
• she isn't smiling at people.