Development

• Two month olds have a tremendous growth in personality. They will smile, coo, turn to your voice and listen intently.
• Encourage some "tummy time" when your baby is awake. Your baby may push up, roll side to side, or even roll over.
• The baby's visual tracking is improving and they can follow at least to midline with their eyes.
• A baby's hands and mouth are its favorite toys and provide a flood of sensory input. Your baby may grasp a rattle placed in his/her hand.
• Crying becomes more focused. Parents will recognize the hungry cry, the pain cry, the frustration cry and the "I'm tired and want to be left alone cry."

Activities

• Interact with your baby: talk, sing, read aloud.
• Give your baby "tummy time" when he/she is awake.
• Try mirrors, music and walks outside.
• Babies enjoy toys/objects with varying textures. At 2 months of age, black and white objects fascinate an infant. By 3-4 months of age, colors such as red become more interesting.

Sleep

• Parental sleep is VERY important. Take shifts; nap when you can.
• Your infant should only sleep on his/her back, without loose blankets, comforters or crib bumpers as this reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Rotate your baby's position in the crib from time to time to prevent preference for one side or the other, as this can help maintain normal head shape.
• Try to develop a bed-time ritual â€" this can include singing a lullaby, turning on music or rubbing your baby's tummy. Begin to encourage the development of good sleep habits by placing your infant in the crib drowsy but awake which will encourage your baby to put her/himself to sleep.
• Keep middle of night feeding brief and boring to encourage sleep.
• Limit daytime naps to less than three hours.
• By four months most babies can sleep eight hours without a feeding. When your baby wakes in the middle of the night, let him/her fuss for a few minutes without intervening; he/she may fall back asleep. If crying persists try patting or rocking your baby. If none of these methods are effective feed your baby briefly.

Safety

• Use a properly fitting rear facing car seat. Center rear seat is the safest position.
• Never leave baby unattended on surfaces above the floor as infants wiggle and move. Do not place car seats on counters or table tops.
• Never hold a baby while drinking a hot beverage or smoking.
• Check your smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on a regular basis. Have a family fire exit plan with ladders in upstairs bedrooms.
• Avoid necklaces, hood ties or more than 8 inch pacifier cords because they pose a strangulation risk.
• Never leave an older sibling or pet alone with the baby.
• Sign up for an infant CPR or safety class.
• Secondhand smoke is harmful. A new baby in the family is excellent motivation to stop smoking. Visit www.quitline.com or talk to your own physician about smoking cessation resources.

Parenting

• Talk to your doctor or your baby's doctor if you feel depressed. Post partum blues are very common. Self-care is essential. It is important to take care of yourself, get some sleep and allow others to help.
• Take time for yourself and to be alone with other family members. This is a good time to allow a grandparent or a friend to watch your baby for a short time while you take a break.

Nutrition

• Typically babies eat every 2 to 3 hours during the days with a longer stretch at night.
• To prevent vitamin D deficiency, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all breastfed infants take 0.5ml Tri-Vi-Sol daily unless they are taking at least 16 oz daily of formula.
• Hold your baby during feedings. Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle or prop it in his/her mouth.
• Solids are not needed at this age. Solid foods can be introduced between 4 to 6 months of age.

Immunizations today

Most babies will have no reaction or are somewhat sleepier following their immunizations. Your baby may develop a fever and/or be fussy for 24-48 hours. Some tenderness or redness at the injection site may occur. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be given if any of these symptoms are present.For more information please visit Immunization Schedule under "Keeping Kids Healthy" tab.

Next Visit

Please schedule your next visit for when your child is 4 months of age as you leave today.

Books/Resources

• Your Baby's First Year by the American Academy of Pediatrics
• Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
• Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth MD
• Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems by Richard Ferber, MD
• Sleeping Through the Night, Revised Edition: How Infants, Toddlers and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep by Jodi A. Mindell PhD
• The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by E. Pantley
• www.vaccine.chop.edu- great site for vaccine information