Sleeping Patterns

Two-month-old babies usually sleep better at night. By now, your baby most likely has a routine for sleeping and eating. Probably she goes at least three hours without a feeding. A baby this age usually sleeps longer than a newborn at night, but each baby is different.


After you feed your baby, hold her and rock her for a while. You can put her to bed at night when she is quiet, even if she is not asleep. You can sit down beside her and pat her gently or sing softly. Doing this will help an active baby learn to calm herself down. She may want to suck a pacifier or her thumb or finger as she gets sleepy.

Every baby will have her own pattern. Every baby will have different things she likes to help her to go to sleep.

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When To Call the Doctor

At your child’s first checkup, ask your doctor what he or she considers a fever in a baby who is your baby’s age and at what temperature you should call him or her. Also, go over with your doctor what problems you should call about immediately.

When your baby is sick, use a thermometer to check for fever. Place the thermometer under her armpit for four minutes and gently cuddle her while you hold her arm to her side. Always call the doctor when a baby who is three months old or younger has a fever. Your doctor will tell you what to do to help your baby.


When your baby is sick, be sure to pick her up and comfort her. Call your doctor right away if your baby has any of these symptoms:

• A stiff neck, or if she can’t move her head to any position
• A wheezing or crackling noise when she breathes
• Pulling on her ears as if they are painful
• A severe cough or red throat
• A fever of any kind

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A Healthy Baby

Your baby needs to see the doctor on a regular basis. These visits are important for her health and development. They are also opportunities to learn more about your baby.

Your doctor can discuss with you whether your baby:


• Is eating well
• Is growing normally
• Is developing social, learning and physical skills properly

While you are at the doctor’s office, you can ask questions about taking care of your baby. You can also talk about any problems you may have being a parent.

During the visit, your doctor will:

• Do a physical exam
• Check her growth and development
• Check her ability to move
• Give her shots to help protect her against a number of diseases
• Do a hearing and eye exam
• Check her height, weight and head size
• Check what she is eating
• Treat any medical problems

At your baby’s two-month checkup, she will be given shots to protect her against illnesses. Ask the doctor or nurse to tell you what kinds of reactions your baby may have to the shots. Also, find out what to do about those reactions. It is a good idea to keep a record of all your baby’s shots.

Find a doctor you like and feel comfortable with. Going to the same doctor each time is a good idea, if you can. Using the same doctor makes it easier to keep track of your baby’s health and growth.

If your baby is eligible for Medicaid, she can get free checkups. You can call your local social welfare, health or family services office to see if you qualify for Medicaid services.

If you don’t have health insurance for your baby, you can learn about resources in your state by contacting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Insure Kids Now Program at 1-877-KIDSNOW. You can also visit their Web site at www.insurekidsnow.gov for more information about free or low-cost health insurance for children. Many public libraries offer free access to the Internet and provide help for first-time users.

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Watching Your Baby Grow

At two months of age, your baby will begin to notice and reach out to the world around her. She can see better now. She can watch a person or object moving directly in front of her. She is more alert and can respond to you more. The world around her is more interesting to her.

Your baby is gaining more strength in her neck and shoulders. This allows her to hold her head up better and to see more.

Your baby also may begin to make some new sounds. She may start cooing and making sounds like "ah-ah-ah" and "ooh, ooh, ooh." And she may make squeaking and gurgling noises.

Your baby will try to bring her hands to her mouth. She will do this often. When her fingers reach her mouth, she will not be good at keeping them there. She will get better at this as she gets older. She can also tightly hold a toy, such as a rattle, when you put it in her hand. But she will have trouble letting it go.

Her movements are no longer jerky but grow smoother day by day. She may be awake more during the day. If she is an active baby, she may be moving all the time when she is awake.

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