Tried and Tested Activities for 2 Month Olds

When my baby was this age, I would often read about the same activities for 2 month olds. Reading books, talking, singing nursery rhymes and skin to skin time are the ones that often came up. Don’t get me wrong, all these things are important. Especially having skin to skin time – which improves brain development and increased parental attachment. Yet, these were things I found myself doing anyway. New ideas were what I wanted.

 

In this post, I will share with you the activities for 2 month olds that I tried with my baby. At this age, your baby is becoming more alert so It’s the perfect time to try more stimulating activities with them.

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Development at 2 months old

Here are some of the physical Developmental milestones your baby may achieve at this age:

• Sucking on their fists
• Holding their head steadier when on their tummy or being held upright
• Batting a colourful object in front of them
• Holding a toy you place in their hands

Other milestones they may also achieve include:

• Smiling for the first time
• Following objects with their eyes
• Grunting and cooing
• Seeing up to 45cm away

Visual Tracking Activities for 2 Month Olds

Visual tracking is the most important task of the eyes. Your baby will have the ability to control where their eyes look (visually track) at around 2-3 months old.

 

Moving toys in front of your baby is an easy way to help them practise visual tracking.

Baby maracas or a rattles work well for this because they’re colourful and make a noise. When moving the instruments start with left and right. Moving them slowly will ensure your baby can follow them with their eyes.

After you’ve done this a few times, try moving them closer and further away. As they get older, try other directions such as up, down and horizontal.

Here are some other activities that encourage visual tracking:

• Follow the fly
• Bubbles
• Finger puppets
• Rolling a ball

Activities to Make Your Baby Smile

Your baby was able to smile from the moment they were born. This is known as a reflexive smile which they have no control over.

But at 2 months they will soon learn to control a smile themselves and socially smile.

Seeing my little one’s social smile for the first time was one of the best feelings. I welcomed it after weeks of sleepless nights and endless nappy changes and feeds! Try to get your little one smiling with the activity ideas below.

Face Time

Just gazing at your face may get your baby smiling. Remember they can only see 45cm away, so get close.

Start by laying down next to them and turning to face them. Then try pulling funny faces.

Be sure to change the sides you lay as this will encourage your baby to turn their head both ways. You may find they prefer to turn their head one way. If this is the case, try to encourage them to turn to the other side little and often.

Knocking Down Blocks

Your baby is too little to play with toys yet, but knocking down foam blocks in front of them may get you a smile or two. Try using exaggerated facial expressions in this activity too.

Grasping

Your baby has no control over their hands yet. But they do have a grasp reflex. This means that when an object is placed in their hand, they will hold it. This reflex usually lasts until 5-6 months of age.

 

Try stroking the palm of your baby’s hand or putting your finger in your baby’s hand. You can also try this using a toy.

Stretching Activities for 2 Month Olds

Your baby will spend a lot of time curled up when they’re a newborn. This is normal because they’re used to being in the fetal position in the womb.

Baby massage and stretching are good for your baby’s physical development and will encourage them to uncurl their limbs.

Stretches

Gentle baby yoga stretches are one way you can encourage your baby to uncurl their limbs. Here’s a video to give you some ideas of how you can do it.

Singing and Stretching

Singing songs whilst moving and stretching your babies arms and legs, will also help them to uncurl their limbs. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and If You’re Happy and You Know It are easy songs with actions.

Batting Toys

Being able to bat at toys, means your baby is one step closer to reaching and grasping them. It requires a lot of practise. So here are some of the ways you can help them.

Play Gyms

If you don’t yet have a play gym, now is the ideal time to buy one. They provide a comfortable place for your baby to play either on their tummy or laying on their back. They are great for encouraging your baby to bat toys.

The award-winning Lovevery play gym is great value for money and will last your baby a whole year! It includes a high contrast Montessori ball and a wooden batting ring. Both of which are great at encouraging batting and visual tracking.

 

Using lots of links helps you to change the toys on your baby’s play gym, which will help to keep them interested.

A Hanger and Spoons

Tying measuring spoons onto a hanger is another way you can entice your baby to bat at objects. They make a great sound too!

Play Arch

Play arches are ideal for getting your baby to bat at objects. The Meadow Days Stroller Arch can be attached to most things – strollers, car seats and carrycots. I often attached ours to the baby bouncer. My little one went from batting the objects to pulling them off and exploring them.

Different Textures

Using different textures with your baby is a lovely sensory experience. Laying them on blankets and bed sheets in only a nappy will help them to feel with different parts of their body.

Juggling Scarves

Laying juggling scarves over your baby is another great sensory experience for them. They can be laying on their back or tummy for this activity. Watching the scarves float to the floor will also help your baby’s visual tracking skills. I often tried this with my little one before doing baby massage and he loved it.

Tummy Time Activities for 2 Month Olds

It’s safe for your baby to have tummy time from birth. Starting with small amounts and increasing the duration is the ideal way to do it. This will also help if your baby hates tummy time.

Big colourful toys

Although your baby won’t reach for toys yet, they will still grab their attention. Grasping beads were my little one’s favourite at 2 months old. They are big, bright and colourful. Older babies also find them easy to hold and they’re safe for teething babies.

Gym Ball

Using a gym ball during tummy time is a good way to add variety and help your baby’s development. To do this, place your baby’s tummy on the ball and hold onto their hips. Gently rock them from side to side and back and forth.

Other Activities for 2 Month Olds

You will probably notice that your baby likes sucking on their hands. Wrist rattles are a good activity for 2 month olds. They will help your baby to develop their hand-eye-coordination.

Conclusion

Batting toys, face time and tummy time are some enjoyable activities for 2 month olds. You should aim to carry out these activities as well as reading books, singing, talking and skin to skin time.

Check out more activities for babies at 0-3 months here. These ideas here include balloon kicking, mirror play and teddy talk.

When doing activities with your little one, try to avoid overstimulation and look out for the signs. Remember your baby also needs periods of quiet time.

Are you sick and tired of trying baby activities that don’t work?

I used to spend ages looking for things to do with my baby but found that he wasn’t interested most of the time.

 

Enjoy their precious first year, (rather than worrying about how you’re going to entertain them next) by signing up for Lovevery’s award-winning play kits.

 

They’ll send you a play kit every 2 months with brand new toys and a handy activities guide. Every box has been designed by many educational experts. Rest easy knowing that a – your baby will like and use the toys. And b – they will help their learning and development right up until they’re a year old. And the best part is that you get to keep it all. So you can save them for your next baby or pass them along to friends!

 

You can cancel the subscription at any time and return the items free of charge (as long as it’s within 30 days). 

 

Family and friends can pay towards a play kit subscription box with Lovevery’s group gifting option. Which is handy for birthdays and Christmas.

There’s an option to pay monthly too. But you will save a massive 10% by paying for the kits upfront! Again you can cancel this at any time and receive a refund for kits you haven’t received.

 

Even if you don’t sign up, make sure you subscribe to Lovevery’s emails.

They’ll send you helpful information about your baby’s development each week, top tips and easy DIY activities.