Two-Month-Old Milestones: What to Expect in Month 2

A 2-month-old may briefly lift or hold their head up during supervised tummy time, but steady, unsupported head control is not expected yet. Continue supporting your baby’s head and neck whenever you hold, carry or reposition them. 

Some early smiles are reflexive and may occur during sleep or without an obvious trigger. Around 2 months, social smiles often become more consistent, and your baby may smile in response to your face, voice or touch. This skill may emerge gradually over the following weeks. 

A 2-month-old can become familiar with frequently experienced voices, faces, scents, touch and caregiving patterns. Your baby may become more alert, appear pleased or calm more easily when a familiar caregiver approaches. This early familiarity is not the same as adult-like recognition, but it supports security and connection. 

Rolling over is not an expected 2-month milestone. Some babies may shift or accidentally roll because of their position or reflexive movement, but intentional rolling generally develops later. Continue supporting your baby’s head and neck, and never leave them unattended on a raised surface. 

Work toward approximately 15–30 cumulative minutes of supervised tummy time each day by about 2 months. Divide that total into several short sessions while your baby is awake, based on what they can comfortably manage. See the supervised tummy-time section for positions and practical tips. 

No. A 2-month-old depends on caregivers for help calming and feeling secure. Responding to crying with a gentle voice, touch or comforting hold does not spoil your baby; it supports trust, connection and emotional development. 

At 2.5 months, your baby may show a mixture of established 2-month milestones and skills that continue emerging as they approach Month 3. 

Many parents feel exhausted and puzzled by their newborn’s seemingly random sleeping, waking, eating, and pooping schedule. This unpredictability is normal. The first 3 to 4 months of a baby’s life are a transition period as they are learning to adapt to life outside the womb. Getting used to being awake during the day and sleeping at night takes time and help from you. 

Babies usually don’t settle into a fairly consistent schedule until they’re about 4 to 6 months old. So the first few months of your child’s life is not the time to expect or to establish a rigid daily schedule. 

What you can do is develop some routines around sleeping and eating. This will set the groundwork for establishing a schedule later on. For example, when you see that your baby is getting drowsy, you can sing her a lullaby and then put her down to sleep. Over a period of time, the lullaby will become your baby’s cue for sleeping. 

You can also slowly work toward helping your child adapt to a more regular routine by looking for patterns in her behavior. One mother, who was trying to get her 10-week-old to take two or three longer naps a day instead of six or seven catnaps, noticed that her child got very sleepy during feedings.  

So she decided to slowly adjust the feeding times to happen when she wanted her baby to nap. She also started trying to keep her daughter awake a few minutes longer before each nap. This meant that her baby would be awake for longer periods during the day, take longer and fewer naps, and sleep for longer stretches during the night. 

Many babies establish a fairly regular feeding schedule all on their own. If this isn’t happening for your baby, you might try to stretch out the time between feedings (beginning with just a few minutes) so that feeding times are longer and fewer.  

If you continue to do this at each feeding, your baby is likely to eat a little more each time and will be able to wait longer between meals. Once again, remember that babies are not ready for “schedules” until they are 4 to 6 months old so try to be patient with your hungry little caterpillar for the time being. 

From “Your Child’s Behavior,” a column written by ZERO TO THREE in American Baby magazine. 

Children have different levels of tolerance for stimulation. While some can handle lots of sound and movement all at once, others find it overwhelming. It sounds like your baby is telling you that this mobile is more than he can handle.  

One option is to put the mobile away for now and try it again later when your son is a bit older and his neurological system is more mature and stronger. Another is to help your son adjust to increasing amounts and kinds of stimulation by letting him look at the mobile without turning it on—no movement, no music.  

When he seems to be calm and enjoying that, try gently moving it so he can see it turn. If he can handle this and likes it, you can try adding the music. Slowly and sensitively introducing him to more stimulation can help him build greater tolerance over time. 

This is also an important example of how babies are good communicators, and are skilled (even from very young ages) at letting you know their needs and wants. When you pay attention to your son’s signals and respond in a supportive way, you let him know he is a good communicator, as well as someone who is loved and accepted for who he is.  

This gives him the foundation he needs to be a confident, secure person as he grows.

Babies usually don’t settle into a fairly consistent schedule until they’re about 4 to 6 months old. So the first few months of your child’s life is not the time to expect or to establish a rigid daily schedule. 

What you can do is develop some routines around sleeping and eating. This will set the groundwork for establishing a schedule later on. For example, when you see that your baby is getting drowsy, you can sing her a lullaby and then put her down to sleep. Over a period of time, the lullaby will become your baby’s cue for sleeping. 

You can also slowly work toward helping your child adapt to a more regular routine by looking for patterns in her behavior. One mother, who was trying to get her 10-week-old to take two or three longer naps a day instead of six or seven catnaps, noticed that her child got very sleepy during feedings.  

So she decided to slowly adjust the feeding times to happen when she wanted her baby to nap. She also started trying to keep her daughter awake a few minutes longer before each nap. This meant that her baby would be awake for longer periods during the day, take longer and fewer naps, and sleep for longer stretches during the night. 

Many babies establish a fairly regular feeding schedule all on their own. If this isn’t happening for your baby, you might try to stretch out the time between feedings (beginning with just a few minutes) so that feeding times are longer and fewer.  

If you continue to do this at each feeding, your baby is likely to eat a little more each time and will be able to wait longer between meals. Once again, remember that babies are not ready for “schedules” until they are 4 to 6 months old so try to be patient with your hungry little caterpillar for the time being. 

From “Your Child’s Behavior,” a column written by ZERO TO THREE in American Baby magazine. 

Children who are in high-quality programs can do very well in child care. Look for a clean and safe setting, with no more than three babies for every caregiver. There should be toys and books at the baby’s level, and child care providers who will let your daughter eat, sleep, and play according to her own individual schedule.  

Make sure that the caregivers talk and play with babies, that they comfort them when they are upset, and that they are loving and nurturing. Caregivers should also be able to provide you with daily feedback about your daughter’s day—how much she ate and slept, how many diapers she had, and what and whom she played with.  

It’s also important to find a program that welcomes parent participation and communicates regularly with parents. Building a good working relationship with your daughter’s caregivers helps ensure that her needs are met. 

Ideally, your daughter would have a “primary” caregiver in her program who is the person primarily responsible for her, while the other caregivers offer back-up care. Having a primary caregiver helps babies thrive as it gives them the chance to build a nurturing connection with an adult who has the time to understand them—their personalities, nonverbal signals, even the way they like to be held, fed, and played with, and how they like to be put to sleep.  

This makes babies feel safe and secure. Talk with your daughter’s child care providers to see if they would be open to assigning one of the staff members to be your daughter’s primary caregiver. 

You can help your daughter adjust and feel comfortable in her new setting by taking her to meet her caregivers and spending time there so it feels familiar. If you can, plan to stay with her for a while on the first day.  

Then, over the course of the first week, gradually decrease your time until you are spending only a minute or two at drop-off. Try as best you can to be positive and relaxed as you say your good-byes.  

Even young babies pick up on their parent’s feelings through their tone of voice, facial expressions, and gestures. If you are anxious and hovering, it may increase your child’s anxiety and make it harder for her to separate.  

If you are worried about how your daughter is doing during the day, call the center and talk with her caregiver. While it can take time, finding a child care program that you like and trust helps make the transition that much easier for your baby…and you, too. 

Seeing your baby unhappy is always tough. But this reaction is not uncommon. Many babies protest at being changed. The experience of going from feeling warm and cozy to being exposed can be uncomfortable. Imagine what being in the womb must have been like—warm and protected, soft and comfy. When your baby finds himself naked and chilly on the changing table, he lets you know he doesn’t like it one bit by crying—his most effective communication strategy!

Certain factors make changing especially distressing for young babies. One is that infants can’t control their body temperature very well. When they’re undressed, the temperature drop feels dramatic, and it takes them longer to warm up once they’re clothed again.

Also, when you change your baby, all different parts of his body are being touched, pushed, and tugged as clothing and diapers are pulled on and off. For babies who are especially sensitive to touch, the experience can be particularly uncomfortable. They show it by pulling away, arching their backs, and crying.

Be sure to plan ahead and make dressing as gentle and quick as possible. Have a clean diaper, baby wipes, and your child’s change of clothes close at hand. Consider using warm diaper wipes or moisten paper towels or a washcloth with warm water. When changing your child, drape a soft towel or blanket over his body to keep him warm. You can also try distracting him with a mobile above the changing table or by singing and talking to him while you change him.

The most important thing you can do is stay calm. When you get upset, your baby senses it in your facial expressions, your voice, and in the way you touch him as you perhaps try to rush to get it over with sooner. This may just get him more worked up. So take a deep breath, and remember, the crying is not about you. Reassure your baby: I understand you don’t like this, sweetie. I’ll just be a few more seconds. I’m putting your pajamas on now. Even though he doesn’t understand your words yet, your soft, loving tone will send the right message.

Make sure that the caregivers talk and play with babies, that they comfort them when they are upset, and that they are loving and nurturing. Caregivers should also be able to provide you with daily feedback about your daughter’s day—how much she ate and slept, how many diapers she had, and what and whom she played with.  

It’s also important to find a program that welcomes parent participation and communicates regularly with parents. Building a good working relationship with your daughter’s caregivers helps ensure that her needs are met. 

Ideally, your daughter would have a “primary” caregiver in her program who is the person primarily responsible for her, while the other caregivers offer back-up care. Having a primary caregiver helps babies thrive as it gives them the chance to build a nurturing connection with an adult who has the time to understand them—their personalities, nonverbal signals, even the way they like to be held, fed, and played with, and how they like to be put to sleep.  

This makes babies feel safe and secure. Talk with your daughter’s child care providers to see if they would be open to assigning one of the staff members to be your daughter’s primary caregiver. 

You can help your daughter adjust and feel comfortable in her new setting by taking her to meet her caregivers and spending time there so it feels familiar. If you can, plan to stay with her for a while on the first day.  

Then, over the course of the first week, gradually decrease your time until you are spending only a minute or two at drop-off. Try as best you can to be positive and relaxed as you say your good-byes.  

Even young babies pick up on their parent’s feelings through their tone of voice, facial expressions, and gestures. If you are anxious and hovering, it may increase your child’s anxiety and make it harder for her to separate.  

If you are worried about how your daughter is doing during the day, call the center and talk with her caregiver. While it can take time, finding a child care program that you like and trust helps make the transition that much easier for your baby…and you, too. 

You can put your fears to rest. By and large, the research shows that young babies who are fussy are NOT more likely to grow up to be cranky kids.

There are several reasons for fussing in the early months:

– Some babies’ central nervous systems are more sensitive and reactive to stimulation from the outside world. This can cause irritability, because these babies are more likely to experience sensory overload. As they mature over the first 3 to 4 months, they usually become better able to handle all the sights and sounds they’re encountering.

– Your baby might be dealing with reflux, a temporary condition, which occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter muscle, which separates the esophagus from the stomach, is relaxed. This allows acidic stomach fluids to back up into the esophagus, causing an uncomfortable, burning sensation.

– If your baby cries continuously for more than 3 hours, 3 days a week during the first 3 months, she may have colic. (Up to 20 percent of babies have it.) Although the cause is unknown, the condition is temporary and won’t impact your child’s development or personality.