Your Baby’s 2 Month Developmental Milestones

Understanding and addressing your baby's sleep patterns is crucial, especially during those early months when sleep for new parents can feel like a precious commodity. Initially, it's common for newborns to sleep around 17 hours a day, which sounds great, but this sleep isn't consolidated, and it certainly won't align with your sleep needs.

Every baby is unique and will have their individual sleep requirements, but typically they will sleep around 14 to 17 hours per day. At 2 months, your baby may settle into a rough pattern of waking for 60 to 90 minutes followed by a period of sleeping.

It is also normal for your baby to wake and sleep at different times on different days. The truth is that at two months old, babies are still too young to have a strict routine.

As your baby's tummy matures and can hold more milk, around the 3 month mark, you might notice longer stretches of sleep at night without the need for feeding. By 6 months, many babies can go through the night without requiring a feed.

Being realistic about newborn sleep patterns is crucial. While their initial months might be challenging, especially with fragmented sleep, introducing sleep training early can contribute to more extended periods of uninterrupted sleep as your baby grows.

First up safety. To encourage your baby to sleep and help them to stay asleep, it important to make sure their sleep swaddle, clothes, cot and environment are suitable to safe sleep and eliminate things that could disrupt their sleep or develop sleep problems.

Settling

If your baby is upset, attend to them every time they cry as they will typically find your presence instantly soothing. Holding, rocking and feeding your baby are all excellent ways to soothe them.

In the case of continued fussing look out for those early feeding cues discussed in the 1 month milestones. They can help you recognise when your baby is hungry before they get to the crying stage

You may also discover your baby doesn’t settle easily with other people, which can be difficult when you need support. Think of other ways your support people can help you during this time such as:

• Doing the laundry
• Cleaning the house
• Doing the grocery shopping
• Cooking meals 

Developmental milestones are stages which most babies reach as part of their normal biollogical development. Whilst  they may not happen at exactly 6 or 7 weeks they usually occur around this window and will let you know if your baby is making all those massive brain connections as expected.

Try to not to use these milestones as a comparison tool and remember each baby develops at their own pace.

Around 2 months you can likely expect to see:

• Strengthening in the neck, chest, and shoulders (your baby will seem to straighten out)
• Watching and tracking people and objects, and focusing on things a bit further away
• Moving limbs in a more fluid, less jerky, motion
• Expanding the types of sounds made
• Self-soothing by sucking on their hand.
• Growth

Newborn babies need to eat a lot because they’re growing so quickly. They usually double their birth weight in their first six months, or even earlier. So, you’ll need to keep the milk coming. You may see signs that they are hungry about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours.

 Physical

Your baby might start to grab onto a rattle when you place it in their hand, or even respond to sound by looking at you when you're talking. Keep them stimulated with talking, reading, and touching to encourage the development of these necessary skills.

• Your baby may smile at you or look for you when they hear your voice.
• You may notice they fuss or cry when they are bored.
• Their arms and leg movements become smoother, and
• They will begin to push their head up or to the side when on their tummy. 

These are all indications that your baby is developing on a good timeline for a 2 month old. Don’t be discouraged if they take their time trying out a new skill more than others. Just like adults, some babies are better at certain skills than others.

Social

Some ways you’ll see your little one learning to connect with the people around them at 2 months:

• Crying and fussing
• Alertness to sounds and movement
• Response to your voice and smile
• Eye contact and hand movement
• Smiling at others and attempting to look at their parents.

Even newborn infants are actively taking in information and learning new things. In addition to gathering new information about the people and the world around them, babies constantly discover new things about themselves.

Emotional

Have “conversations” with your baby when they make cooing noises by speaking back to them using baby talk. This back and forth is important for helping him to develop language and communication skills.

• Smiles when spoken to or smiled at
• Becomes calm when spoken to or held
• Looks at people’s faces
• Seems happy when approached by a familiar person

Try to engage in skin-to-skin contact when your little one is upset. Hold your baby close to your face and make eye contact. Your warmth will help soothe them while your little one learns your features.

Cognitive

Babies are always developing new ways to think, communicate, and solve problems while exploring the world around them. At 2 months most infants begin to:

• Anticipate behaviours, like rooting and sucking at the site of a nipple or bottle
• Detect sound differences in pitch and volume
• Discern objects more clearly within a distance of 33 cms
• Focus on moving objects, including the faces of caregivers
• See all colours of the human visual spectrum
• Tell between tastes, from sweet, salty, bitter, and sour

It's important to remember that each newborn is on their unique timeline. Some babies might reach milestones a bit earlier or later, and that's perfectly okay.

If your child:

·       Can’t latch while breastfeeding.

·       Loses a lot of milk out of the side of their mouth while feeding.

·       Won’t smile at people.

·       Doesn’t bring their hands to their mouth. 

·       Has no response to loud noises.

·       Doesn’t track people and objects as they move.

·       Is unable to hold their head up while on their tummy.

Don't hesitate to share your observations with your registered midwife, child health nurse, Well Child nurse or GP for advice. Your concerns matter and open and honest communication with the right people is key.

Keep enjoying lots of skin-to-skin contact with your baby and give them some periods of "tummy time" to initiat play . Tummy time may be as simple as placing your baby on your chest, allowing them to briefly lift their head. You’ll notice your baby may be able to hold their head up for short periods of time, which is an important step for their strength and development.

As your baby’s grasp reflex lessens, grabbing at all sorts of things becomes natural. Keep your little one stimulated with talking, reading and touch – these are the best toys at this early age. You may also have a range of baby-safe toys with bright colours and textures which can aid in play time.

Your baby’s hearing is improving too. Talking, reading or singing to them may help your little one recognise you and help them settle at sleep time.

We naturally want to protect our little ones from illness, infections and injury but we can’t afford to neglect our health. Providing safe environments for your baby to grow and thrive is often a parent’s primary concern and keeping check-ups up to date is one of the many ways to be vigilant. 

Vaccinations

In Australia, the National Immunisation Program Schedule provides the childhood immunisations recommended for all children, free of charge.  It is common for babies in Australia to receive the first of the following vaccinations from 5 and 6 weeks:

Diphtheria tetanus whooping cough polio hepatitis B hib vaccine
1 injection from 5 weeks, at 4 months and 6 months.

Rotavirus

Liquid drops at 6 weeks and 4 months.

Pneumococcal disease

1 injection at 6 weeks, at 4 months and 12 months.

Meningococcal B

1 injection at 6 weeks, at 4 months and 12 months.

Speak to your child health nurse, doctor or healthcare professional with any questions you may have about immunisations.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the National Immunisation Schedule sets out the free vaccines offered to babies, tamariki, teenagers and adults. From 5 and 6 weeks it is common for babies in New Zealand to receive the first of these vaccinations:

Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, hepatitis B, and hib vaccine
1 injection from 5 weeks, at 3 months and 5 months.

Rotavirus

Liquid drops from 6 weeks and 3 months

Pneumococcal

1 injection from 6 weeks  at 5 months and 12 months.

Speak to your Well Child nurse, doctor or healthcare professional with any questions you may have about immunisations

Baby health check

In Australia, your GP or child health nurse will see your baby at regular times so they can check your little one’s health, growth and development to make sure your baby is getting the right support to meet their developmental milestones.

In New Zealand, by the 3 month stage, your midwife will have discharged you into the care of your GP and your baby is seen by a Well Child provider. Your Well Child or Plunket nurse will also check your baby’s health, growth and development.

Health check for mums

Check in with your GP at 6 to 8 weeks for a check of baby's weight and length, development, and to discuss immunisations.

This is also a good opportunity for your GP to:

• check that you have recovered from your birth
• discuss your birth control options
• check in with your mental health and
• provide a Pap smear if you are due.

Book a double appointment to ensure you have enough time!

If you are seeing a child health nurse in Australia or Well Child provider in New Zealand, you will likely see them at around 6 to 8 weeks.

Pelvic Floor

Any pregnancy and childbirth experience can put increased pressure on your pelvic floor. Whilst it is not uncommon for women to experience issues with their pelvic floor in the postpartum period and beyond, it is important to seek help and get support for these issues early.

Pelvic floor issues may include:

•  leaking urine when coughing or sneezing
• being unable to control your flatulence,
• more frequent urinary tract infections.

Physiotherapists who specialise in pelvic floor and women’s health are invaluable and can provide support during this period and beyond.

Your partner or support people may have returned to work, leaving you alone with your baby for long stretches of the day. While this is a special time of bonding for you and your baby, this can feel isolating.

Speak to your Child and Family Health nurse about any parenting groups in your area. Your local library may also have programs for babies so you can meet other parents and join in with activities that your baby will love. Finding something you enjoy, that you can do with your baby and other people is invaluable during this time.

If you and/or your partner are struggling and need someone to talk to, there are support services available such as your:

• Registered Midwife
• Child and Family Health nurse
• ·Well Child nurse
• GP or family doctor
• PANDA helpline 1300 726 306 (AUS)
• Lifeline 0800 543 354 (NZ).