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2 Month Old Baby: Milestones, Sleep and Feeding
Your 2 month old baby: social smiles, longer awake times, feeding, sleep and what to expect at the first vaccinations.
Before you use this guide: Every baby grows and develops at their own pace, and healthy babies vary a lot. Weights are WHO medians at the start of the month, not targets. If your baby was born early, use their corrected age. This is general information, not an individual medical assessment.
How your baby is developing
Month two is when babies start to feel like real company. You may see your baby's first social smiles, often at around six to eight weeks, and hear soft cooing sounds. They begin to follow you with their eyes and may look at a toy for a few seconds.
Their muscles are getting stronger. They can lift their head for a moment on their tummy, their arms and legs move smoothly, and their fists begin to open. Crying often peaks at around six weeks, then slowly eases over the next couple of months.
Milestones to look for
These are skills that many babies show around this age. Some will come earlier and some later, and missing one is not usually a cause for worry.
- Calms down when spoken to or picked up
- Looks at your face, and seems happy to see you
- Smiles when you talk to or smile at them
- Makes sounds other than crying, and reacts to loud sounds
- Watches you as you move, and looks at a toy for several seconds
- Holds their head up for a moment when on their tummy
- Moves both arms and both legs, and opens their hands briefly
For the full checklist, see the CDC milestone checklist for this age.
Feeding
- Feeding is still on demand. Many babies go through a growth spurt at around six weeks and feed much more often for a few days.
- Breastfed babies are often feeding around 7 to 9 times a day, and formula-fed babies 5 to 7 bottles. Feeds can be quicker as babies get more efficient.
- Babies do not need water, juice or solid food at this age.
- Weighing is usually only done about once a month, so there is no need to weigh your baby at home.
Sleep
- Total sleep is similar to month one, but some babies start to have one longer stretch at night.
- Evenings are often fussy. This is common, and it usually settles.
- A simple wind-down, such as a feed, a dim room and a lullaby, helps your baby learn that night is for sleeping.
- Stop swaddling as soon as your baby shows signs of trying to roll.
See our wake windows by age guide and the rules in our safe sleep guide.
Play and learning
- Smile back and chat when your baby coos. This back-and-forth is how they learn conversation.
- Give more tummy time, a few minutes at a time, once or twice after nappy changes.
- Hold a colourful toy 20 to 30 cm from their face and slowly move it so they can follow.
- Try a baby mirror, or gentle music and songs.
Keeping your baby safe
- Keep using safe sleep every time, including naps.
- Do not use pillows, bumpers or soft toys in the cot.
- Check the bath water with your wrist or elbow, and never leave your baby alone in the bath.
- Keep the car seat rear-facing and fitted correctly.
Looking after yourself
Your own recovery matters too. The six-week postnatal check is a good time to talk about how you are feeling, your body, contraception and getting back to exercise.
If you feel low, anxious or unable to cope, tell someone. Postnatal depression can start at any point in the first year.
When to ask for help
A baby under three months with a temperature of 38 °C or above needs urgent medical advice. Also talk to your health visitor or doctor if your baby does not seem to respond to sounds or to your face, is not feeding or putting on weight well, or cries in a way that seems different or high-pitched and you cannot settle them.
Trust your instincts. If you are worried about your baby at any age, contact your doctor, health visitor or local emergency number.
Born early? Our corrected age calculator shows the age to use when you look at milestones.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own doctor or health visitor.
- CDC: Helping babies sleep safely — Safe sleep environment recommendations for babies.
- NHS: Early days — Newborn checks, feeding, and support during the first days.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.