From the Guidelines
At 2 months old, babies should be able to lift their head and chest in a prone position, which is a key gross motor milestone. This milestone is crucial for assessing the baby's overall development and identifying any potential delays or issues early on 1. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, at 2 months, babies typically achieve certain developmental milestones, including:
- Gross motor milestones: lifting head and chest in prone position
- Fine motor milestones: no specific milestones are listed for 2 months, but babies typically start to develop hand movements and may begin to discover their hands
It's essential to note that every baby develops at their own pace, and some may achieve these milestones earlier or later than others. However, if there are concerns about a baby's development, it's crucial to discuss them with a pediatrician, who can assess the baby's overall development and provide guidance on how to support their growth 1. Regular well-child visits and daily activities like tummy time, talking to the baby, and responding to their cues can help support healthy development and identify any potential issues early on.
Some key elements of motor history to consider when assessing a 2-month-old baby's development include:
- Delayed acquisition of skills: is there anything the baby is not doing that they should be able to do?
- Involuntary movements or coordination impairments: is there anything the baby is doing that is causing concern?
- Regression of skills: is there anything the baby used to be able to do that they can no longer do?
- Strength, coordination, and endurance issues: is there anything other babies the same age can do that is difficult for this baby? 1
By monitoring these milestones and addressing any concerns with a pediatrician, parents can help ensure their baby is developing typically and address any potential issues early on.
From the Research
Developmental Milestones for 2-Month-Old Infants
There are no specific developmental milestones mentioned in the provided studies for 2-month-old infants. However, the studies discuss the importance of early identification of potential developmental delays and the use of formal screening measures to detect these delays.
Screening for Developmental Delays
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends formal developmental screening for all children at the 9-, 18-, and 24- and/or 30-month well-child visits, as well as developmental surveillance at every office visit through age 5 years 2.
- Parent-completed tools, such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status, are preferable to directly administered tools in the primary care setting due to time constraints 3.
- The use of a validated screening tool at regular, repeated intervals, in addition to physician surveillance at well-child visits, may improve early detection of developmental delays 3.
Prevalence of Developmental Delays
- An estimated 15% of children in the United States have at least one developmental delay, yet less than one-fifth of those children receive early intervention services before three years of age 3.
- Between 5% and 12% of children ages 2 to 5 years are diagnosed with a speech or language delay, with 50% of these children experiencing delays that persist into adolescence 4.
- Among children with special health care needs aged 0 to 4 years, 50.2% met the inclusion criteria for developmental delay, and 21.6% had overall unmet therapy need 5.