0-2 Month Old Baby Development: What to Expect
Between 0 and 2 months, Baby is learning how to move their body and communicate with you. They will start lifting their head during Tummy Time, cooing, and giving their first real smile. Baby will also begin to notice faces, sounds, and your voice more clearly. Expect frequent feedings and short naps, both day and night.
0-2 Month Old Development at a Glance (Overview)
Explore core topics for 0-2 months:
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Starting Tummy Time
By 2 months, most babies can lift their head briefly during Tummy Time, though it will still take practice and short, frequent sessions throughout the day. As Baby is still getting used to Tummy Time, most sessions will be spent on your chest, lap, or while you carry them, but don’t forget to sneak some floor Tummy Time in too. Log daily sessions with the Pathways.org Tummy Timer.
Curious what Tummy Time should look like as Baby grows? We have video breakdowns of typical Tummy Time skills from 2 weeks to 6 months. Watch the whole series here: Tummy Time: Essential Guide for Parents.
Log a Tummy Time Session
Sleep Patterns and Routines
Most 0-2-month-olds sleep about 14 to 17 hours a day, spread across nighttime sleep and several naps. Waking up at night is still normal at this age, since babies this young usually need to feed every few hours. You'll know Baby is ready for a snooze by watching for specific sleep cues.
Read: The ABCs of Safe Sleep
Read: Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Sleep
Watch: When Do Babies Sleep Through the Night? A Guide to Baby's Sleep in the First Year
Bonding with Your Newborn
In the early months, you and Baby are just getting to know one another! Bonding helps Baby feel safe and supports healthy brain growth. Skin-to-skin contact, gentle massage, talking, and singing are simple, everyday ways to bond.
By 2 months, babies are becoming more socially engaged: making eye contact, studying faces, offering their first social smiles, and calming when held, rocked, or spoken to softly.
Read: Social-Emotional Development: How Baby Builds Connection
Watch: How to Massage Baby & Help Their Development: Massage+ 30, 10, 5
0-2 Month Motor Development
Smooth Moves
By 2 months, babies can briefly lift and hold their head up during Tummy Time, and their movements become smoother and less jerky than before. They'll also kick their legs and push with their feet when placed on a firm surface, and turn their head from side to side while lying on their back.
Watch: 2-Month-Old Typical/Atypical Motor Development — Side by Side Comparison
Tiny Hands
At this age, Baby's hands become more relaxed and open than the tight fists of the newborn stage. They'll start bringing their hands toward their face and mouth, and can briefly grasp a finger or small object placed in their palm.
Watch: Baby's Fine and Gross Motor Skills: A Physical Therapist-Approved Guide
Positioning matters. Switch up Baby's head position during feeding, sleep, and playtime, as this helps prevent flat spots on the head (positional plagiocephaly) and a stiff, tilted neck (torticollis).
Read: What Is Positional Plagiocephaly & Positional Torticollis?
Read: Do the “Baby 180°” Every Day to Prevent Positional Plagiocephaly and Torticollis
0-2 Month Sensory Development
What Your Baby Can Hear
By 2 months, Baby recognizes familiar voices, may turn toward sound, and can be calmed by soft, rhythmic noise. Read Baby's Senses: Hearing and What to Expect From Baby's Hearing Tests.
Watch: Parents' Guide to Baby's Hearing and Listening Development
Visual Development at 2 Months
Babies at this age see best at close range (8–12 inches), are drawn to faces and high-contrast patterns, and are starting to follow a slowly moving object with their eyes.
Watch: Infant Vision Development: What Baby Sees in Their First Year
0-2 Month Communication Development
Cooing and Early Sounds
Around 6–8 weeks, most babies begin cooing—soft vowel sounds like “ooh” and “ahh”—often in response to your voice or face.
Watch: Crying, Cooing, Communication: Baby's First Year
Social Smiling: When to Expect It
Baby's first true smile makes its debut! A social smile happens as a direct response to seeing your face, not just from gas or a reflex, and it usually appears between 6 and 8 weeks.
Read: When Will My Baby Smile?
Watch: Baby's First Smile: What to Expect
How Babies Respond to Your Voice
At 2 months, babies often quiet, turn toward, or brighten at a familiar voice, which is an early building block of back-and-forth communication. Learn the basics in What Are the Different Parts of Communication?
Watch: 0-2 Month Communication Milestones: Secret Ways Newborns Communicate With Parents
0-2 Month Feeding Development
How much and How Often to Feed Baby
Most 2-month-olds feed every 2 to 4 hours, or about 6 to 8 times a day, whether breastfed or bottle-fed. Feedings may happen more often during a growth spurt, which is commonly seen around 6 to 8 weeks.
Read: How Much and How Often Should I Feed My Baby?
Download: Feeding Brochure
Cluster Feeding
Cluster feeding is a normal part of this. During a growth spurt (or just in general), Baby may want to feed more frequently in short bursts rather than on the usual schedule. Cluster feeding is Baby's way of boosting your milk supply or simply catching up on calories, and it typically settles back down within a few days. Watching for signs that Baby is full—rather than a strict clock—can help you feel more confident during these unpredictable stretches.
Track it: Log milestones as they happen with the free Pathways.org Milestone Tracker or the Pathways.org Baby Milestones app.
Track Baby's Milestones
What to Expect at 0-2 Month Well-Baby Visits
In the first couple months, Baby will have several well-child visits just to make sure their development is on track. You can expect visits at 3-5 days old, 1 month old, and 2 months old.
Here are a few things Baby's pediatrician will do at these appointments:
Measure height, weight, and head circumference growth
Discuss feeding routine and any concerns
Review sleep patterns and safe sleep practices
Talk about any milestones Baby has or hasn't reached yet (bring your tracked milestones from the Pathways.org app or milestone checklist!)
Read: What to Expect at a Well-Baby Visit
Read: Well-Baby Visit Schedule: What to Expect at Each Age
Watch: Parents' Guide to Preparing for Well-Baby Visits
Signs to Watch For at 0-2 Months
If you notice any of these warning signs, bring them up with Baby's healthcare provider:
Difficulty lifting head
Keeps hands fisted and lacks arm movement
Pushes back with head while lying on back
Does not enjoy different types of movement
Does not follow an object with their eyes
Fists remain closed most of the time
Frequently resists being held
Does not cry when hungry or uncomfortable
Does not make eye contact or smile at a caregiver
Does not notice or respond to loud noises
Loses a lot of breast milk or formula out of side of mouth while feeding
Unable to latch on while nursing or bottle feeding
What to Do If You Suspect a Delay
If any of the signs above sound familiar, talk to Baby's healthcare provider. Early conversations lead to earlier support if it's needed. Start here: Suspect a Delay? and What Is Early Intervention?
Read: Is Baby Not Meeting Their Milestones? What to Do Next
Watch: What to Do If You Suspect a Delay
0-2 Month Milestones FAQs
Is My 0-2 Month Old on Track?
The best way to check is to compare against the ranges above and log progress with the Pathways.org Milestone Tracker, which uses CDC- and AAP-aligned ranges reviewed by pediatric specialists.
If your baby was born premature, remember to use their “corrected age” when tracking milestones (learn how to adjust for prematurity here). If you create a Pathways.org account, it will automatically do this for you.
What If My Baby Isn't Hitting Milestones Yet?
Milestones are key behavioral and physical checkpoints in children's development. If your baby is missing a milestone, discuss this with Baby’s healthcare provider.
Milestones are sorted by age ranges, so Baby has until the end of the range to meet them (e.g., Baby should achieve a 0-2 month milestone by 2 months old). If Baby is missing any milestones after the age range, talk to Baby’s healthcare provider. Learn more in Suspect a Delay?.