Movement Milestones for Your 2-Month-Old
At 2 months old, your baby is beginning to settle into the world around them. This is an exciting time, filled with lots of new experiences, including moving in different ways. Read on to learn more about movement milestones for your 2-month-old.
In this article:
2-month-old milestones
Your baby may be interacting a little more, so you may notice new behaviors.
Movement milestones to look for at 2 months and tips to encourage your baby:
- Lifting their head up when on their tummy. While your baby is practicing tummy time, get down on the floor with them. Try rattling toys in different directions. The movement and noise of the toys helps your baby practice moving their eyes and head.
- Moving both arms and both legs in a more circular motion. While your baby is lying on their back, lean your head over theirs and make silly faces or noises, or give kisses. These interactions can help excite your baby, prompting them to move their arms and legs.
- Opening their hands briefly and then closing them. Help your baby practice this motion by offering your fingers for them to open and close their little hands around.
Overall, try encouraging these movements by offering your baby cues of excitement like clapping, a positive speaking tone and cheerful singing. This helps your baby know they’re doing the right thing and encourages them to keep doing it.
Your baby may show lots of different emotions as they navigate new milestones, feelings like frustration, discomfort and excitement. This is OK and normal. Your role as the caregiver is to encourage them throughout their movement journey by remembering you can never spoil a baby (or child) by showing love and responding to their needs.
Safety tips for parents and caregivers
As your baby begins to meet these exciting milestones, keep these safety tips in mind:
- Always watch your baby when they’re on an elevated surface, such as a bed, couch or changing table, to prevent falls.
- Always watch your baby while they’re on their tummy. At 2 months, your baby doesn’t have the head and neck control to reposition themselves if their airway is blocked. And remember to follow the ABCs of safe sleep when it’s time for a nap or nighttime sleep.
- Only use infant bouncers for 30 minutes (or less) at a time. The toys on bouncers can help stimulate your baby’s mind, but they are considered confining equipment. That means your baby doesn’t have full range of motion for their body, which they need for proper growth and development.
Ready to learn about what to expect next? We’ve got you covered with milestones for 4-month-olds.
Note: If you’re concerned about your baby meeting their milestones, talk with their pediatrician.
