Now your two-month-old seems more like a baby and much less a newborn. Your baby is more responsive, affectionate and demonstrates this by flashing beautiful social smiles at you and others she meets. Her whole body responds by moving in synchrony when you talk to her. She is also beginning to make sense of the little everyday things, like her bottle. She is beginning to comprehend the basics of cause and effect; in fact it is becoming important to her to know that she can influence her environment. She thrives on response. This is clear in her toy choice; she prefers toys that respond with sound or movement to her limited ways of handling them. She loves having her parents respond when she cries, when she calls out to play, when she makes those subtle expressions.


Milestones - your Baby's progress report


You will be amazed by the changes that manifest this month.



Baby Gazes:


Your baby now looks at objects with greater concentration, often for long periods of time. Encourage this by holding up colorful fascinating things for her to explore visually. She will especially delight when she spots a favorite object because she is now beginning to recognize familiar things. Her vision is sharpening as well. While holding baby, notice her looking at details of your face such as eyebrows, nose and lips. She is beginning to tell one person apart from another and her face especially lights up when she sees you.


Baby's Vocal Cords:


Your baby adds lots of new sounds to her vocal repertoire. She makes little pops, hums and buzzes when excited and dismayed sounding noises when disappointed. She expresses a wide range of feelings: interest, amusement, excitement, surprise, affection and disappointment. Those coos and gurgles increase rapport with baby. She will 'talk' to you more when you talk and touch her.


Baby's reaction to Sound:


Different sounds produce different reactions. While babies love listening to musical sounds from toys or mobiles or music CDs and your singing, they show aversion to high pitched, piercing type of sounds coming from pressure cookers, vacuum cleaners or police sirens. Such sounds freeze babies or make them cry. It is natural for mammals to react instinctively to loud high-pitched sounds, albeit negatively.



First-Aid Kit - a must in your home



Keep these items together in a handy location; you may never know when you will need them.

Thermometer

Rubbing alcohol

Cotton balls and swabs

Ear- buds

Baby wipes

Diaper rash cream

Medication to reduce pain and relieve fever (follow your pediatrician's recommendation)

Cool mist humidifier

Dropper or oral syringe to measure accurately any liquid medication

Electrolyte solution(baby formula) if baby develops diarrhea (follow your pediatrician's recommendation)

Nasal aspirator for clearing nasal congestion.



Toys and Play


Batting practice:

Babies this age delight in batting at simple objects that dangle near their fists. It is a good eye-hand coordination practice and an important step to reaching and grasping. Colorful, fairly light and large objects make good batting toys.
Lie baby on back. Dangle the toy few inches above her hands and encourage her to hit it. Tap her fist against the toy to get her started.
Hold the toy further away when she becomes more adept. Sit her on your lap and dangle toy out in front of rather than over her.
A word of Caution: ensure the string of toy is no longer than 6 inches if you are using string. Detach the string if baby is playing with toy to prevent baby from getting tangled in it.

Kick Toy:

Babies like to kick toys too. Attach a rattle or bell with self-adhesive cloth tape to baby's ankle. When he kicks he will amuse himself with the noise he makes. Don't leave baby unattended.

Little Piggies to the Market:

This is an interactive game which both of you will enjoy. Sit baby on your lap or lie him down on the floor. Say one line as you gently wiggle each to on his foot. When you reach the last line, run your fingers up baby's body, tickling him lightly.

This little piggy went to market.
This little piggy stayed at home.
This little piggy had roast beef.
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy cried, "Mama!"
All the way home!

Push-ups:

Help baby strengthen his upper-body by placing him on his tummy with his arms stretched out in front. Shake a rattle above his head to encourage him to look up. Shake the rattle below him so he looks down. Do this a couple of times so he moves up and down.