Smile, Smile, Smile- Sometime between 1 and 3 months of age your baby will start to smile at you. This is not the smile that you saw when he was sleeping nor the smile babies make when they have stomach gas but a real social smile to get your attention. It starts in response to your smile but soon baby will smile to get a smile from you. This is a very exciting milestone for parents because it is so much fun. It is important because it is communication for reasons other than physical needs, like hunger.
MILESTONES (More or Less, milestones are a guideline. Each baby is unique and will reach these skills at their own pace. Milestones looks at the average.)
How your two month old moves:
1. The primitive reflexes are beginning to decrease and baby is not so flexed (bent) when lying down
2. When held up on your shoulder baby can lift his head and hold it up for a short time.
3. On his tummy, baby will lift his head and shoulders (if he has had tummy time to practice.)
4. When you hold her in sitting, she can hold her head up herself but it may be wobbly. Continue to give head support during play activities so baby does not need to hold her head up and play at the same time.
5. Baby will start repeating specific actions, such as kicking his feet or wiggling his hands.
How your two month old uses hands:
1. The grasp reflex is beginning to decrease and the hands will be more open at rest.
2. Baby may be able to hold an object for a few minutes if it is placed in his hands and is lightweight.
3. Baby may start putting hand to mouth and sucking on them with intent. Previous to this, the hands may have been in the mouth but usually baby found them almost by accident.
Your two month old’s senses
1. Your baby will try to follow your face or an object of interest with his eyes. He will be able to follow it further than he could at one month.
2. Baby will start to prefer looking at pictures and 3d objects to the pattern designs of the first month.
3. Baby will be interested in sounds and may try to look for the source of the sound, if not by turning her head, at least, by moving her eyes in the direction of sounds, especially sudden sounds like a phone ringing or something dropping.
4. Baby will kick and wiggle excitedly with interesting sights and sounds.
5. Your baby will be interested in sights and sound that are familiar but changing. He will show interest by maintaining his gaze. When he loses interest he will stop looking or listening.
6. Touch and oral senses are still baby’s strongest and she will start “exploring” hands by mouthing them.
Thinking and Learning- Baby gets excited at moving objects and begins to anticipate where they will move
- Stares at objects or pictures
- Baby will repeat actions for their own sake.
- Starts to associate activities with people, for example, eating with mother, playing with big brother.
Two month old language skills:
1. Baby will start to make a variety of sounds
2. Your baby will respond to your voice by vocalizing.
3. Baby’s cries are clearly different for different reasons.
4. Babies quiet and listen to voices with interest.
Social skills at two months
1. The social smile starts. Baby will try to engage you at this time.
2. Baby will be calmed but more alert if you lift her up to your shoulder.
3. Baby may start to comfort himself by sucking on hands
4. Baby will have longer periods of wake time during the day and longer sleep periods at night.
ACTIVITIES FOR TWO MONTH OLDS
Motor
1. Tummy time continues to be important. Now baby can be on a mat or blanket on the floor and will be interested in looking at toys that are placed nearby. A mirror is also attractive and there are some mirrors designed for infants.
2. Place a rattle in hands. Baby will hold it for a short time, may try to bring it to mouth for further exploration. She will learn that it makes noise with experience.
3. Hold baby up to your shoulder and take a tour of house. Stop to look at pictures and mirrors and windows.
Sensory, Thinking and Learning
1. Start showing baby large picture books. At this time, colorful pictures hold baby’s interest.
2. Good time for body awareness activities like ankle and wrist bells. When baby moves hand or feet will hear bells.
3. Gentle baby massage is good at this time.
4. Babies from this age need varied stimulation. They will get bored if they have the same view or the same sound. For example, when you are face to face with baby, change your expression on your face. Baby will enjoy it. Also, periodically change the view baby has from the crib by putting new pictures on the nearby wall.
5. Make a mobile. Use a slotted spoon or spatula like the kind you use in the kitchen (Plastic is fine). Get some colored ribbons and cut into lengths of about 8 inches (20 cm) Tie a knot at the end of the ribbon large enough to keep the ribbon from passing through the slots in the spoon and thread it through a slot or hole in the spoon. Tie a knot in the ribbon on the other side of the opening so it will stay in place. You could alternately thread the ribbon through 2 holes and tie it in place. With the different colored ribbons dangling down, wave the spoon above baby or in front of baby (if sitting or on tummy) so strings are about 6-8 inches (15-20cm) from baby's eyes. Light and bright ribbons in a variety of colors should be used. How many depends on you.
6. Make a pompom out of two very contrasting colors of yarn. Wrap both colors of yarn around a piece of cardboard about 5 inches in width, (length should be enough to hold the yarn but size is not important.) Run a piece of yarn through the loops of yarn made on the cardboard. wrap it around all pieces of yarn and tie securely around yarn at top of cardboard. cut yarn along bottom of cardboard shake it so it forms a ball. You can use this to get baby's attention for looking and for tracking. Get baby to look at it and move it slightly to left or right, wait until baby gets it in focus again and move it slightly. Go in both directions.
5. Make a mobile. Use a slotted spoon or spatula like the kind you use in the kitchen (Plastic is fine). Get some colored ribbons and cut into lengths of about 8 inches (20 cm) Tie a knot at the end of the ribbon large enough to keep the ribbon from passing through the slots in the spoon and thread it through a slot or hole in the spoon. Tie a knot in the ribbon on the other side of the opening so it will stay in place. You could alternately thread the ribbon through 2 holes and tie it in place. With the different colored ribbons dangling down, wave the spoon above baby or in front of baby (if sitting or on tummy) so strings are about 6-8 inches (15-20cm) from baby's eyes. Light and bright ribbons in a variety of colors should be used. How many depends on you.
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| This one has a bell tied in the middle adding sound to sight |
Language and Social
- By this age, baby will be aware of music and may express likes and dislikes of types of music.
- Sing to baby
- Talk to your baby during routine dressing and bathing and diapering. Talk about what you are doing and about the surroundings.
- At this time, you can introduce books designed for babies with big colorful pictures and a few words. Imitate the sounds your baby makes to you. This is not what is meant by not using baby talk. Imitating his sounds gives him a sense of communication and encourages him to explore sounds.
- This is a social time for baby and a time for interaction. Imitate sounds he makes, Take turns making sounds.
- Play the “smile” game whenever you get a chance. (It's hard not to anyway). smile at baby when baby smiles at you.
