Here's what you might see your baby doing
between the ages of 2 and 4 months.
Daily
Activities
- Crying gradually becomes less
frequent.
- Displays greater variety of emotions:
distress, excitement, delight.
- May begin to sleep through the night.
- Smiles, gurgles and coos, particularly
when talked to.
- Shows more distress when an adult
leaves.
- Quiets down when held or talked to.
- Cannot conceive of an object existing
if it cannot be sensed.
Vision
- Focuses better, but still no more than
12 inches.
- Follows objects by moving head from
side to side.
- Prefers brightly colored objects.
Hearing
- Knows difference between male and
female voices.
- Knows the difference between angry and
friendly voices.
Motor Skills
- Movements become increasingly
smoother.
- Lifts chest momentarily when lying on
tummy.
- Holds head steady when held or seated
with support.
- Discovers hands and fingers.
- Grasps with more control.
- May bat at dangling objects with
entire body.
Each child is unique. It is therefore difficult to describe
exactly what should be expected at each stage of a child's
development. While certain behaviors and physical milestones
tend to occur at certain ages, a wide spectrum of growth and
behavior for each age is normal. These guidelines are
offered as a way of showing a general progression through
the developmental stages rather than as fixed requirements
for normal development at specific ages. It is perfectly
natural for a child to attain some milestones earlier and
other milestones later than the general trend.
If you have any concerns related to your
child's own pattern of development, check with your health
care provider.
