Although it might seem as if all your baby does in those first few months is sleep, feed and fill diaper after diaper, it’s amazing how much they change in such a short space of time. Here’s what to expect from your baby by the time they reach two months.
Feeding and sleeping
These two tasks will take up most of your baby’s time in the first two months. As long as they’re feeding every couple of hours and napping somewhere safe and cozy for about 16 hours a day that’s almost all they need. It’s a good job too, as although it sounds simple, getting into a comfortable feeding routine can take time and practice so you’re probably going to feel too tired to do much else.
Reflexes
From birth, your baby will have a set of reflexes that can help you understand what they need. The strongest of these is the rooting reflex, which helps them find your breast or a bottle when they’re hungry. You’ll soon recognize the way your little one’s head turns ‘rooting’ for your breast. Once it locks on to target, another reflex takes over, sucking. The grasp or palmer reflex is also strong from birth – the cute way your little one will grab hold of your finger when you put it in their palm. And if you’ve wondered why your baby suddenly jerks awake, it’s called the Moro or startle reflex. It’s a natural response when your baby hears a loud noise or a sudden movement. As your little one gradually starts to get used to the world around them, this reflex will stop.
Vision
Your baby will be able to see from birth and even make eye contact, but it will take time for their vision to become fine-tuned. For the first month, the eyes can only focus at around 30cm, but that’s enough to see your face when you’re holding them close – a good excuse for plenty of cuddles. Your baby won’t be able to see in color yet, which is why many newborn toys and books are in black and white to help little eyes focus.
Hearing
In the first few weeks after birth, your baby should have been offered a newborn hearing test to rule out permanent hearing loss. Although your little one’s hearing isn’t fully developed yet, it’s still pretty good and they should respond to a sudden loud noise like a clap or bang.
Developmental milestone
You’ll never forget the first time your baby smiles – it will make all those sleepless nights seem worthwhile. But sorry to disappoint you, if you’ve seen your baby smile in the first few weeks, it’s more likely to be wind, or just a reflex to feeling warm and comfy. Don’t worry though, you won’t have to wait long – most babies will flash you a toothless grin at around six weeks. By the time they’re two months, you’ll also start to hear cooing and gurgling sounds – a welcome change from all that crying!
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