2-Month Milestones
What many babies do by 2 months and how caregivers can support development
At two months, your baby is becoming more aware of the world around them. You’re likely noticing small but meaningful changes in how they interact, move, and communicate. This page breaks down typical milestone expectations, with real-life examples and gentle guidance for support.
Note: These milestone descriptions reflect what most babies (about 75% or more) are expected to demonstrate by 2 months of age.
Social & Emotional Milestones
By two months, many babies:
Calm down when spoken to or picked up; for example, your voice and touch help them settle.
Look at your face when you’re close.
Seems happy to see you when you approach.
Smile when you talk or smile at them; that early social smile is a connection-building moment.
Real-Life Example
You pick up your baby and speak softly; they relax their body and meet your eyes. That tells you they’re learning to coregulate their emotions and to begin forming social bonds. These early smiles and calm responses are foundational for later social play.
Language & Communication Milestones
Around two months, many babies:
Make sounds other than crying, like coos or gurgles.
React to loud sounds, turning their head or widening their eyes.
Everyday Context
When you talk, read, or sing to your baby, and they respond with sounds, they’re practicing early language skills; the conversational back-and-forth that precedes words.
Cognitive (Thinking & Learning) Milestones
At this age, many babies:
Watch you as you move across the room.
Look at a toy or face for a few seconds.
What This Means
Babies are using their growing attention skills to learn from what they see. That focused watching helps build memory, recognition, and early thinking skills.
Movement & Physical Development Milestones
By two months, many babies:
Hold their head up when on their tummy.
Move both arms and legs, often in smooth, less jerky ways.
Open their hands briefly.
Everyday Examples
During supervised “tummy time,” your baby briefly lifts and steadies their head; that’s strengthening neck, shoulder, and core muscles that support later skills like rolling and sitting.
Kicking arms and legs during play signals developing neuromotor coordination.
How You Can Support Your Baby’s Development
At two months, babies learn best through close physical contact, predictable routines, and responsive interaction. These activities are most successful when they happen naturally; during feeding, diaper changes, floor play, or quiet alert moments. Small interactions, repeated often, build the foundation for later skills.
You can support development by:
Holding, cuddling, and carrying your baby throughout the day. Physical contact supports social and emotional development and helps babies learn to feel safe, regulated, and connected.
Paying attention to your baby’s signals, such as hunger cues, signs of fullness, tiredness, or overstimulation, and responding consistently. This back-and-forth helps babies begin to understand communication and predict what comes next.
Talking, reading, and singing during everyday routines, such as feeding, diaper changes, or getting ready for sleep. Repeated routines paired with language support early cognitive development and attention.
Copying your baby’s sounds and facial expressions. When you repeat a coo or expression, you’re reinforcing early communication and teaching your baby that their actions have meaning.
Providing supervised tummy time several times a day. This helps strengthen the muscles needed for head control, rolling, and later movement skills.
Holding a rattle or noisy toy off to one side and gently shaking it, then pausing to see if your baby turns or looks toward the sound. This supports early listening skills, visual tracking, and coordination.
Placing a baby-safe mirror near your baby during floor play. Looking at reflections helps babies begin to notice faces, movement, and themselves in space.
Helping your baby practice calming and self-soothing, such as pausing briefly before responding to fussing or using a consistent soothing routine. Learning to settle supports both cognitive and motor development.
Gently moving your baby’s arms and legs during play or care routines. This supports body awareness and coordinated movement.
These activities don’t need to be done all at once or on a schedule, and they do not “teach” milestones; they create the supportive environment where milestones can emerge.
Printable Tools & Next Steps
Download or view a checklist you can use during everyday routines to track which milestones your baby is demonstrating.
Bring your checklist to well-child visits and use it to support conversations with your pediatric healthcare provider.
Test Your Knowledge
A quick check, or a fast refresher if you’re short on time
1. Social-Emotional - What does it mean if your baby calms when you speak or pick them up?
A. They prefer silence
B. They’re learning emotional regulation and social connection
C. They are tired and want sleep
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B. They’re learning emotional regulation and social connection
2. Language – At 4 months, how might your baby react to loud sounds?
A. By turning their head or widening their eyes
B. At 4 months, the baby is still too young to have any noticeable reaction
C. By covering their ears
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A. By turning their head or widening their eyes
3. Cognitive – Why is it important that your baby watches you as you move?
A. They are curious about movement
B. They’re ready to crawl soon
C. They are building attention and early learning skills
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C. They are building attention and early learning skills
4. Movement – Why help your baby with supervised tummy time?
A. It tires them out
B. It supports muscle strength for future skills
C. It’s just something to do
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B. It supports muscle strength for future skills
Please note that…
This information is intended to support learning and awareness, not to replace guidance from a healthcare or early childhood professional.