Your baby's growth and development - 2 months old

During the first 2 months, your baby grows and develops quickly. They start to move their arms and legs more and respond to their surroundings.

At 6 to 8 weeks of age, your baby needs a full health check. This may be done by a health professional such as a:

• maternal child health nurse
• midwife
• GP
• paediatrician

At this age, your baby is due to have their scheduled vaccinations. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander babies may be offered an additional vaccine.

In the first 2 months, your baby is growing quickly. Every baby grows at their own pace and often develops differently from other babies. 

Some babies grow a little faster, while others grow more slowly. Babies also differ in how their bodies develop, such as how much fat and muscle they have. What matters most is that your baby keeps growing steadily over time.

Your baby’s weight and length will be checked at regular health checks. These measurements are compared with standard growth charts to make sure your baby is growing steadily.

Babies often have a growth spurt (when they grow quickly over a short time) at about 6 weeks. This might make them fussier because they want to eat more than usual. 

Physical Development

At 2 months old, your baby starts to move their body more and gain strength. 

During tummy time, your baby may lift their head for short moments and turn it from side to side. Tummy time is when you place your baby on their tummy while they are awake and you are watching them. It helps your baby build strength in their neck and upper body. 

When lying on their back, your baby may wave their arms and legs and start to reach for dangling objects. Their hands are more relaxed and open. They may grasp an object placed in their hand, but may not yet be able to let go. 

Safety is very important — even though your baby can’t roll, they may kick and wriggle. Never leave your baby alone on a change table or any raised surface.

Social Development

At 2 months old, many babies become more social and responsive.

Your baby may:

• smile back when you smile at them
• look at your face and make eye contact
• enjoy interaction and settle more easily when they hear familiar voices
• copy simple facial expressions
• begin to show more regular patterns of feeding, sleeping and being awake

Cognitive Development

Your baby may follow you with their eyes and enjoy looking at faces.

Emotional development

Your baby cries to tell you they are hungry, tired or need a nappy change. They may also cry because they need comfort. Holding and cuddling your baby often helps them feel calm and safe.

Language Development

Your baby may make cooing or gurgling sounds when calm and content. 

As your baby starts to settle into a daily rhythm, they are often awake more during the day. This gives you more time to interact and bond with them. 

You can support your baby’s development by:

• playing with them 
• letting them look at and feel a variety of objects with different colours, shapes and designs 
• reading, singing and talking to them 
• spending time face to face, smiling and responding to their sounds

A baby massage may help your baby relax. After a bath can be a good time.

Help your baby build neck strength by placing them on their tummy for short periods during the day. Aim for a few minutes each time, adding up to at least 30 minutes across the day.

Always stay with your baby during tummy time and always place your baby on their back for sleep.

Talk to your doctor or maternal child health nurse if your baby:

• isn’t feeding well
• cries a lot or is hard to settle
• isn’t moving their arms or legs
• isn’t smiling or responding to you when you play with them
• doesn’t react to loud sounds
• has sleeping patterns that worry you

At any age, it’s important to speak to your doctor if your baby has stopped doing something they had already learned to do. This is sometimes called ‘regression’.

Read more about common worries and fears for parents.

If you are worried or would like to discuss any issues with your baby’s development, speak to your doctor or maternal child health nurse.

You can also try these support groups:

• Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority has information about your child’s development from birth to 4 months old.
• Australian Breastfeeding Association has information about weight gain and growth patterns in breastfed babies.
• Children’s Health — Queensland Hospital and Health Service has a fact sheet on development skills and activities from birth to 4 months old.
• Tresillian has information on baby milestones and development.
• Child Health Info has a child development guide from birth up to 12 months old.

Subscribe to Pregnancy, Birth and Baby’s monthly newsletter for more information about your baby.

Languages other than English

Find information in a range of community languages about your 2-month-old baby’s development.

The Government of Western Australia Child and Adolescent Health Service has translated child health fact sheets in languages other than English.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Get Up and Grow is a resource for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples about the first foods you will feed your baby.

Australian Breastfeeding Association has breastfeeding resources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

SMS4 Deadly Dads helps First Nations dads connect with their bub, support mum and look after themselves.