Developmental Milestones for a 2-Month-Old Baby
At 2 months of age, a baby should be able to lift their head and chest when placed on their stomach (prone position). 1
Gross Motor Development
The primary motor milestone expected at 2 months is head control in the prone position:
- Lifts head and chest when lying on stomach - This is the key gross motor skill that defines typical development at this age 1
- Head lifting in prone position begins developing between 1-2 months and becomes more consistent by 2 months 2
- By 2 months, infants increasingly hold their head at body midline when tracking visual objects 2
Fine Motor Development
No specific fine motor milestones are expected at 2 months of age according to American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines 1. Fine motor skills such as unfisted hands, midline hand play, and grasping objects emerge later at 4 months 1.
Important Context for Assessment
These milestones represent mean ages of performance, meaning some variation is normal 1. However, marked delays beyond these ages warrant attention and do not necessarily signify neuromotor disease 1.
What Comes Next
To provide perspective on the developmental trajectory:
- By 4 months: Rolling prone to supine, supporting on elbows/wrists in prone, hands unfisted, playing with fingers at midline, and grasping objects 1
- By 9 months: Rolling both directions, sitting without support, demonstrating motor symmetry - absence of these skills at 9 months signifies delay 1
Clinical Considerations
Continuous developmental surveillance should occur at every visit, with parents' concerns about development being elicited and documented 1. For infants born before 36 weeks gestation, correct for prematurity for at least the first 24 months when assessing milestones 1.
Red flags requiring immediate evaluation include regression of any motor skills, marked asymmetry in movement patterns, hypotonia, or dysmorphic features 3.