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Welcome to the second month of your baby's journey! As your little one continues to grow and thrive, it's essential to ensure their health and well-being while celebrating their developmental milestones. From physical achievements to emerging social interactions, each day brings new discoveries and delights. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the developmental milestones and health-related considerations for your two-month-old baby.​

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Physical Development

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• Head Control: By two months, your baby may begin to lift their head briefly while lying on their stomach during supervised tummy time. This helps strengthen neck muscles and promotes head control, laying the foundation for future motor skills development.

• Hand-Eye Coordination: Your baby's hand-eye coordination continues to improve, and they may start to bat at objects within reach. Encourage this development by offering colorful toys and objects for them to grasp and explore.

• Leg Strength: Some babies may start to push against a surface with their legs when held upright, demonstrating increased leg strength and muscle control.

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Cognitive Development

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• Visual Tracking: Your baby's vision continues to develop, and they may show an increased ability to track moving objects with their eyes. Provide visual stimulation with high-contrast toys and books to support this development.

• Recognition: Your baby may start to recognize familiar faces and voices, responding with smiles or coos when interacting with familiar caregivers.

• Sensory Exploration: Encourage sensory exploration by exposing your baby to a variety of textures, sounds, and sensations. This helps stimulate their senses and promotes cognitive development.

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Social and Emotional Development

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• Social Smiles: One of the most heartwarming milestones at two months is the emergence of social smiles. Your baby may start to smile in response to your smile or voice, signaling their growing bond with you.

• Cooing and Babbling: Your baby may begin to vocalize more, cooing and babbling in response to stimuli or when seeking attention. Respond to their sounds with smiles and conversation to encourage early communication skills.

• Attachment: As your baby grows, they develop a strong attachment to their primary caregivers, seeking comfort and security from familiar faces and voices.

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Healthcare Considerations

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​Schedule regular checkups with your healthcare provider to ensure your baby receives recommended vaccinations and monitor their growth and development. Your baby should have an appointment scheduled for this month, with the next one set for when they are 4 months old.

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• Vaccinations: Vaccinations are a vital part of infant healthcare. At two months, your baby may receive additional vaccinations as part of Manitoba's immunization schedule. At this age, babies typically receive the first dose of the following immunizations (as of March 2024):

• DTaP-IPV-Hib (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b): The DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).

• Rotavirus: Given orally, the rotavirus vaccine helps protect against severe diarrhea and vomiting caused by rotavirus infection.

• Pneu-C-13 (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine): The PCV vaccine protects against pneumococcal infections, including pneumonia (lungs), meningitis (covering of the brain), and bacteremia (blood). These infections can be life-threatening, particularly for infants, making vaccination essential.

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Parents are encouraged to consult with their healthcare provider to understand the importance of vaccinations and address any questions or concerns they may have, ultimately helping to ensure the health and well-being of their child and the broader community.

 

Sources:

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• Healthy Children. (2022, August 03). Newborn Reflexes. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/newborn-reflexes.aspx

• Government of Manitoba. (2024). Routine Immunizations Schedules. https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/div/schedules.html

• Rourke Baby Record. (2017, October). 2 Months Old. https://www.rourkebabyrecord.ca/pdf/Brochure%202017%202%20mos%20171016.pdf

• Nationwide Children's. (2023). Infant Vision Birth to One Year. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/health-wellness-and-safety-resources/helping-hands/infant-vision-birth-to-one-year

• SickKids. (2020, June 19). Sensory development and suggestions for babies: The first 18 months. https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=3881&language=english#:~:text=Babies%20take%20in%20sensory%20information,such%20as%20play%20or%20sleep.

• KidsHealth. (2022, May). Communication and Your 1- to 3-Month-Old. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/c13m.html

• Rourke, L., Leduc, D., & Rourke, J. (2020). Rourke Baby Record: Evidence-Based Infant/Child Health Maintenance [PDF]. Rourke Baby Record. https://www.rourkebabyrecord.ca/pdf/RBR%202020%20NAT-EN-1vpp-BLK-2020-Apr-29.pdf

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This information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. We do not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here.
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