What should a baby be able to do at 2 months?

A child at 2 months can already do quite a lot. In addition, parents by this time learn to understand their child better. This makes caring for him much easier. Now parents need to know what a child at 2 months should be able to do.

Read also: What a baby should be able to do at 1 month

General information about the skills of a child at 2 months

When a baby is 2 months old, his gaze changes. It is more focused when the baby is looking at something or someone. This behavior differs from the visual abilities of a newborn. Immediately after birth, the baby's gaze is scattered, and at 2 months it is already quite meaningful.

A 2-month-old child already sleeps much less; after feeding, he does not fall asleep immediately, but can walk around in his crib.

When there are sharp sounds and bright light, the child reacts immediately - he cries in response. By that time, parents already know how to distinguish the characteristics of the child's crying and understand when he cries because of hunger, when - from the cold, and when - from pain.

A 2-month-old baby likes to hear the voice of his mother or father, he strives for communication, but he himself, except for crying, cannot communicate his needs. Therefore, it is worth talking to the baby as often as possible. When talking, it is advisable to change the timbre of the voice, this maintains the baby's interest in the conversation of adults and gradually he begins to make simple sounds himself. They are called cooing.

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Motor skills of a child at 2 months

Two-month-old babies have much better control over their body movements. This means they can hold their head a little more steadily when lying on their tummy or hold it upright.

In the second month of life, babies continue to show a strong sucking reflex. The baby enjoys sucking on his fist or a few of his own fingers. This is one of the best ways babies can soothe themselves.

At 2 months, your baby does not have the coordination to play with toys. But your baby may be able to hold a toy for a short time if you give it to him.

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Baby's sleep at 2 months

At this age, babies sleep 15 to 16 hours a day. But babies aged two months are usually not ready to sleep through the night. This is especially true for infants who wake up every three hours at night to feed.

You can help your baby learn to fall asleep on his own by placing him in his crib when he is still sleepy but not yet asleep.

A baby should be trained to sleep on his back at 2 months to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). You can give him enough time to lie on his stomach when your baby is awake and you can supervise him. To ensure the proper development of the baby's spine, remove all unnecessary things from the baby's crib: pillows, blankets, soft toys and rattles.

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Baby's vision at 2 months

At two months, babies can see objects and people up to 45 centimeters away. This means that the baby can see the parents best when they are quite close, but the baby can see the mother's face best when feeding. The baby is already able to follow the mother's movements when she is nearby.

The baby's hearing also improves. A 2-month-old baby will especially enjoy listening to the sound of his mother's voice.

The second month of a child's life: communication

A baby's communication consists of crying. But you may also hear sounds from your baby like gurgling, grunting, and even cooing. A two-month-old baby can recognize his mother's face and voice and respond to them. You may even see a hint of a smile on your baby's face - he will learn to smile fully later.

One of the most important things you can do at this age is to talk to your baby. Yes, 2-month-olds can't talk, but they will respond to the sound of their mother's voice, and this will encourage them to begin forming their first words in the coming months.

Tips for parents in the second month of a child's life

The first months of a baby's life are exciting and stressful for new parents. Don't be afraid to seek advice from your doctor when you need it. Your pediatrician is the best source of information, but family and friends can also provide insight.

Today, parents travel a lot. As a result, children spend a lot of time in a special chair in car seats. Know that young children need to be able to move in different positions throughout the day to exercise their muscles.

This will allow them to learn to crawl and eventually walk. Alternate periods of your baby's movement with walks in the stroller, do not forget to pick up your baby - this is the best therapy for him. Children should not constantly sleep in a stroller or car seat.

Hugs and kisses, as well as parental conversation, are very important in the first months of your baby. Don't forget to massage your baby, too.

When your baby cries, try different soothing techniques. Some babies respond to soft, calm music or singing. Others are soothed by what's called "white" noise (like a radio playing at a low volume). Experiment to find what works best for your 2-month-old.

Education and games with a 2 month old baby

1. Help your child concentrate his/her visual attention on bright toys. Knowing the peculiarities of the child's visual perception, you can move a bright doll in front of him/her at a distance of 25 cm from his/her face. Gradually, the child will learn to follow this toy and even smile a little. Move the toy first vertically, then horizontally. This will allow the child to strengthen the eye muscles. When the child loses interest in the game, stop it.
2. To develop your child's hearing, hang rattles or toys with melodic sounds above him.
3. It doesn't matter that your child can't talk to you yet. Sing rhythmic songs and read rhythmic nursery rhymes to him. This will develop a sense of rhythm in your child.
4. Do physical exercises with your child. You can do a "bicycle" by taking your child's legs in your palms and spinning them in the air, as if the child were riding a bicycle.
5. Bathing and hardening is a very good way to strengthen the immune system of a two-month-old baby. When pouring and rubbing, the water temperature should initially be no lower than 34 degrees, then gradually increase the water temperature to 24 degrees. The degrees are lowered over the course of a week, decreasing the water temperature by two degrees every day.

Now you know what a child should be able to do at 2 months. And he can already do a lot. He will learn even more if his parents pay enough attention to him.

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