After getting through the first month, your baby will have more perception of the surroundings during month 2.
By the end of four weeks after birth, your baby begins to exit the newborn phase.
You are beginning to get used to having a baby in your home, becoming more skillful with baby care. Fixing bottles, changing diapers, swaddling, and breastfeeding is feeling easier by the day.
However, you still have to perfect some of the baby care activities and learn others in month two. Your little one is developing fast, changing their feeding, sleeping, and diaper-change routines.
2nd Month Baby Feeding
Breastfeed or formula-feed your 2-month baby exclusively.
If breastfeeding, your baby will need to feed every two to three hours. Your infant will also consume more milk at every feeding because their stomach capacity has increased. Usually, the baby will nurse for at least 10 minutes.
If formula-feeding, your two month old is likely to eat every three to four hours. Just like a breast-fed baby, the little one will feed more formula in every sitting because of the enlarged stomach volume. A two month old will eat between 5 to 6 ounces of formula per feeding.
For both breastmilk and formula-fed babies, the increased feeding intake and longer feeding period is likely to lead to more sleep.
Whether breastfeeding or bottlefeeding, feed your baby on demand. Look for hunger cues such as searching for your breast, sucking on their hands, and smacking their lips.
Sleeping at Month 2
Your baby will sleep for 15 to 16 hours a day, 5 or 6 hours of those at night. Nighttime sleeping hours increase as your child’s nervous system matures and their stomach capacity increases, accommodating more milk or formula.
Usually, a 2 month baby sleep:
- May start developing a regular sleep-wake pattern with 1 to 2 hours of awake time between naps.
- May include two morning naps, two afternoon naps, an evening nap, and several sleep-awake times at night.
Development of Baby – Second Month
During the 2nd month, your baby continues to develop physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially.
Physical development
Physically, your baby grows at the same rate as in the first month, adding 5 to 7 ounces every week and growing about 1/2 an inch in a month.
Your baby’s muscles also become stronger, supporting mover movement. Your little one becomes aware of their newly acquired muscle coordination, moving, watching, and stretching to practice new positions.
Your 2-month old can also keep their head centered and look straight up when on their back.
Your baby can now hold their head steady for more seconds when in a sitting position because of their stronger neck muscles. Also, the stronger neck muscles enable your little one to raise their head to look ahead for a few seconds when lying on their belly.
Sensory Development
Your baby’s sight ability improves during the 2nd month, allowing them to focus on objects and track the moving ones. Your little one can see objects from uo to 18 inches away.
Your child’s color vision also develops in the 2nd month. During this period, your baby appreciates brightly colored toys or environments to soft-pastel colors.
You may also notice that your baby is actively listening and is watching your lips’ movement when you speak to them. The baby then responds by moving their arms and legs with excitement or by making vocalizations.
Mental Growth
Your baby acquires both inward and outward expression. Your infant listens and absorbs speech and sounds around them and also begins vocalizing their thoughts.
Cooing and gurgling are some mental developments (expressive language) that your baby acquires between 6 and 8 weeks.
Social Development
Your baby’s social development is most during their 2nd month of age and is most identified with their smile’s in response to your smile. Your delightful response to your child’s smile forms the basis of them differentiating themselves from others.
Your baby’s smile also expresses contentment or happiness.
Your baby also expresses themselves by crying and fussing .
Baby Hair During Month 2
Your baby’s hair is still falling out, which is normal. Your child may have bald spots, especially at the back because of their head’s regular friction with the crib mattress or other sleeping surfaces.
After a few months, your baby will lose all the newborn hair and grow stronger and fuller hair. Your child will have learnt rolling over and moving around, minimizing bald spots.
Baby Appearance Second Month after delivery
Your baby’s head is still bigger than the rest of their body. At two months, the head is still growing more rapidly than everything else.
Your baby’s skin begins improving. If your baby had jaundice, it should be over. If not, consult your pediatrician. Other skin conditions such as milia should also be largely cleared in month 2.
Your 2-month old may also look round and chubby because of added weight. Their legs and arms may also seem taller and leaner because their developed muscles allow them to stretch and move them freely.
Month 2 Vaccinations
At two months, your baby needs to get the following vaccinations;
- Hepatitis B (HepB) booster (2nd dose)
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP)-First dose
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (1st dose)
- Polio (IPV) (1st dose)
- Rotavirus (1st dose)
Do not panic if your baby gets a rash or pain at the injection site after an injection. It is a normal, mild reaction.
Other likely side effects of vaccination your baby may experience are:
- Fatigue
- Fussiness
- Stomach discomfort such as diarrhea and vomiting
- Slight fever.
Albeit rare, your baby may suffer more serious side effects, including extreme fussiness, seizures, and high grade fever. If they experience any of the severe side effects, contact your pediatrician for the needed care.
Second Month Baby Milestones
- Steadily holding head when seating
- Gaining awareness of their fingers
- Straightening legs out and strengthening kicks
- Making sounds such as cooing
- Recognizing parents’ faces
- Give up the grasp reflex
- Learning to smile back to parent’s smiles
- Learning to smile spontaneously to show happiness or contentment
- Learning how to lift shoulders up when lying on the stomach.
- Starts following movement of objects and people.