Important Points About Your 2 Month Old Baby
Family
By this time, you may be thinking about going back to work soon. Make sure you have made plans for childcare. You may also want to discuss decisions about family planning with your provider or if you would like information on birth control options.
Development
Important! Hold, cuddle, talk, sing, and read to your baby. Your baby should be cooing at this age, responding to sound, and lifting her head when lying down. Tummy time will help strengthen your baby’s back and neck muscles and prevent her head from flattening in the back.
Health
Fever- Please call us for any fever higher than 100.4°. After hours, take your baby to the emergency room. After 3 months of age, your baby should be seen if his temperature is 102.2° or higher, or lasts more than 3 to 4 days. A fever helps the body fight infection. You don’t need to give your baby medicine if her fever is less than 102°. But if she seems uncomfortable, you can. Use Tylenol (acetaminophen). Do not use Motrin, ibuprofen, or aspirin. Other “over the counter” medications are not safe and should only be given if your medical provider tells you.
Sleep- Remember, your baby needs to be sleeping in his own crib. By this age he should be waking up less often in the middle of the night. Make nighttime feedings brief and boring, and do not turn on the lights. This way your baby will start to sleep longer periods during the night and do most of his feedings during the day.
Nutrition (Eating)
We encourage you to keep breastfeeding since it still gives benefits to your baby that formula does not. If you are breastfeeding only, keep giving your baby Vitamin D. If you are going back to work, you can store your breast milk. Use the Rule of 3: Breast milk can be kept 3 hours at room temperature, 3 days in the refrigerator, and 3 months in the freezer. Wait until 6 months before introducing other food to your baby to prevent obesity (being overweight) and nitrate poisoning (nitrate is a chemical found in some vegetables and fruits). At 6 months, you can introduce some baby cereal with a spoon.
Safety
Keep putting your baby on his back to sleep to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Your baby may start rolling soon, so never leave him alone on a table or bed or anywhere he can fall. Hot water heaters are usually set at 140 °F and this could burn your baby. Set yours at 120 °F. Keep putting your baby in a rear-facing car seat only. Do not smoke in the house or car if your baby is with you.
After Hours and Weekends
After 4:00 PM and before 8:00 AM
For medical advice when People’s is closed call After Hours Nurse line at 512-478-4939
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