At two months old, your baby is starting to learn more about the world around them. Your bundle of joy might start communicating more with you and being more social. They may even start noticing all the sights and sounds around them! Here are some milestones you can expect to see around two months of age.

Congratulations, you and your baby have made it to a wonderful two months together! Some truly exciting things start happening around the two-month mark. 

Milestones for 2-month-old

Some of the common things you’ll see as your baby approaches the two-month mark include: 

• Baby talk
• Recognition and interaction with you
• Smiling
• Holding their head up about 45 degrees
• Moving their arms and legs purposefully
• Sleeping longer through the night

Baby talk

One of the most exciting milestones for a two-month-old baby is that you may notice that they begin to communicate using their own little language! You may notice them cooing and saying vowel-like sounds (ie: “oohs” and “aahs”) to communicate with you. You can encourage this by talking back to them and seeing how long you can “carry on a conversation.”

More recognition

Another exciting milestone you’ll notice as you approach the two-month mark is that your baby is going to start recognizing you! You might catch them staring at your face and looking happy to see you. 

You might also notice that they’re starting to listen harder to the world around them. They may start looking around when they hear sounds close by. To test this, take a rattle toy and shake it gently by the side of their head to see if they turn to try to find where it is coming from.

Smiling

Get ready for your heart to melt! Around two months old, you may notice that your baby is starting to break out in those cute little baby smiles. This is the age when they start “social smiling,” or smiling in response to their you and others around them.

Holding their head up

At two months old, your baby might be able to hold their own head up during tummy time. They’ll have enough strength to push up with their upper body and hold their heads up on their own at about a 45-degree angle.

Moving arms and legs

Your baby’s movements were probably jerky and reflexive when they were a newborn. Now, you might notice that your baby’s movements are becoming more purposeful. They’ll be moving more smoothly and deliberately.

They might become a little more aware of their hands and legs (and the fact that they can move them at will!). You might catch your baby sucking on their own hands to “self-soothe.” They might also start bending their knees and kicking their legs. 

Sleep at 2 months old

Around two months of age, some babies will start to sleep for longer and longer periods at night. In fact, they might sleep throughout the entire six to eight hours of bedtime without waking! Some may still be fussy, however. Don’t be discouraged if your little one is still waking up throughout the night.

They might also need fewer naps during the day. On average, two-month-old babies spend 14-17 hours a day sleeping.

Normal Growth at 2 months old

You’ll also start to notice that your baby is growing pretty rapidly around the two-month mark. While every baby is going to grow at their own pace, many of them will gain about 1 ½ - 2 pounds each month. They’ll be growing taller too, with an average of 1 to 1½ inches gained in length per month.

You’ll also begin to notice that the “soft spot” on the back of their head, otherwise known as the “posterior fontanelle,” is beginning to close.

Things that you can do with your 2-month old

Talk to them!

Now that they’re starting to talk, it’s a great time to encourage them by having “conversations” with you.  Give them your attention when they’re talking and respond back, so they’re encouraged to keep trying.

In addition, you can also try singing to them and playing with toys that make a noise like rattlers.

Read, Read, Read

Reading to your baby can help them start learning language. They can also listen to your voice while you’re reading and hear how it changes! It’s really important to read to them during this time since they’re usually interested in sounds and talking. Make time to read to your baby every day to help them develop their speaking skills.

Get into a good Routine

Keeping a simple routine for your infant so that they know what to expect during the day. It can also help them feel less anxious and more comfortable as they learn about the world around them. You don’t need to be super-strict here. Instead, focus on making simple routines for eating and sleeping. Finally, make sure to set aside plenty of time for play, since that’s how babies learn best!

Don’t forget the Tummy Time!

Getting plenty of tummy time is more important now than ever! Your baby is becoming stronger and learning how to push themselves up and raise their heads. To help them out, surround them with some of their favorite toys. You can even give them a baby-safe mirror. This can encourage them to hold themselves up for longer and explore the world from this important position.

But remember, never leave them unattended while they’re on their tummy. Make sure they’re always on their backs when it’s time for a nap or bedtime.

Key Takeaways

Two months is an important time in your baby’s development. It’s the time when they really start participating in the world around them and learning how to communicate. Remember, every baby is going to grow and learn at its own pace. This list is simply a rundown of all the milestones babies generally experience around this time.