Important Milestones: Your Baby By Two Months

CDC’s milestones and parent tips have been updated and new checklist ages have been added (15 and 30 months). For more information about the updates to CDC’s developmental milestones, please review the Pediatrics journal article and these important key points.

How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about your child’s development. Developmental milestones are things most children (75% or more) can do by a certain age.

Check the milestones your child has reached by 2 months by completing a checklist with CDC’s free Milestone Tracker mobile app, for iOS and Android devices, using the Digital Online Checklist, or by printing the checklist [755 KB, 2 Pages, Print Only] below.

“Learn the Signs. Act Early.” materials are not a substitute for standardized, validated developmental screening tools.

What most babies do by this age:

Social/Emotional Milestones

• Calms down when spoken to or picked up
• Looks at your face
• Seems happy to see you when you walk up to her
• Smiles when you talk to or smile at her

Language/Communication Milestones

• Makes sounds other than crying

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Watches you as you move

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

• Holds head up when on tummy
• Moves both arms and both legs

Calms down when spoken to or picked up

Looks at your face

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Seems happy to see you when you walk up to her

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Smiles when you talk to or smile at her

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Watches you as you move

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Looks at a toy for several seconds

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Holds head up when on tummy

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Other important things to share with the doctor…

• What are some things you and your baby do together?
• What are some things your baby likes to do?
• Is there anything your baby does or does not do that concerns you?
• Has your baby lost any skills he/she once had?
• Does your baby have any special healthcare needs or was he/she born prematurely?

Concerned About Your Child’s Development?
Act Early.

You know your child best. Don’t wait. If your child is not meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills he or she once had, or you have other concerns, act early. Talk with your child’s doctor, share your concerns, and ask about developmental screening.

If you or the doctor are still concerned:

1. Ask for a referral to a specialist who can evaluate your child more; and
2. Call your state or territory’s early intervention program to find out if your child can get services to help. Learn more and find the number at cdc.gov/FindEI.

For more on how to help your child, visit cdc.gov/Concerned.

As your baby’s first teacher, you can help his or her learning and brain development. Try these simple tips and activities in a safe way. Talk with your baby’s doctor and teachers if you have questions or for more ideas on how to help your baby’s development.

• Respond positively to your baby. Act excited, smile, and talk to him when he makes sounds. This teaches him to take turns “talking” back and forth in conversation.
• Talk, read, and sing to your baby to help her develop and understand language.
• Spend time cuddling and holding your baby. This will help him feel safe and cared for. You will not spoil your baby by holding or responding to him.

• Being responsive to your baby helps him learn and grow. Limiting your screen time when you are with your baby helps you be responsive.
• Take care of yourself. Parenting can be hard work! It’s easier to enjoy your new baby when you feel good yourself.
• Learn to notice and respond to your baby’s signals to know what she’s feeling and needs. You will feel good and your baby will feel safe and loved. For example, is she trying to “play” with you by making sounds and looking at you, or is she turning her head away, yawning, or becoming fussy because she needs a break?
• Lay your baby on his tummy when he is awake and put toys at eye level in front of him. This will help him practice lifting his head up. Do not leave your baby alone. If he seems sleepy, place him on his back in a safe sleep area (firm mattress with no blankets, pillows, bumper pads, or toys).
• Feed only breast milk or formula to your baby. Babies are not ready for other foods, water or other drinks for about the first 6 months of life.
• Learn when your baby is hungry by looking for signs. Watch for signs of hunger, such as putting hands to mouth, turning head toward breast/bottle, or smacking/licking lips.
• Look for signs your baby is full, such as closing her mouth or turning her head away from the breast/bottle. If your baby is not hungry, it’s ok to stop feeding.
• Do not shake your baby or allow anyone else to—ever! You can damage his brain or even cause his death. Put your baby in a safe place and walk away if you’re getting upset when he is crying. Check on him every 5–10 minutes. Infant crying is often worse in the first few months of life, but it gets better!
• Have routines for sleeping and feeding. This will help your baby begin to learn what to expect.
• Hold a rattle off to one side of your baby’s head, shake it, and see if your baby looks for the noise.
• Practice staying calm when your baby is upset by talking softly, holding, rocking, or singing to her. This will help her calm down and lessen her stress and fears.
• Limit screen time (TV, tablets, phones, etc.) to video calling with loved ones. Screen time is not recommended for children younger than 2 years of age. Babies learn by talking, playing, and interacting with others.
• Talk and play with your baby while feeding, dressing, and bathing.
• Help your baby learn some ways to self-soothe by letting her suck on her fingers or a pacifier.
• Copy your baby’s sounds and see how long your baby “talks” by making sounds back and forth with you.
• Place a baby-safe mirror near your baby so she can look at herself. She will begin to develop a sense of who she is.
• Look at pictures with bright colors or faces with your baby and talk about them.

Special acknowledgments to the subject matter experts and others who contributed to the review of data and selection of developmental milestones, especially Paul H. Lipkin, MD, Michelle M. Macias, MD, Julie F. Pajek, PhD, Judith S. Shaw, EdD, MPH, RN, Karnesha Slaughter, MPH, Jane K. Squires, PhD, Toni M. Whitaker, MD, Lisa D. Wiggins, PhD, and Jennifer M. Zubler, MD.

Sincere gratitude to Natalia Benza, MD and José O. Rodríguez, MD, MBA for their thoughtful review of the Spanish-language translation of these milestones.

• Child Development
• Positive Parenting Tips
• National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities