Let'south face information technology: Caring for a newborn is exhausting (sleep — what'southward that?) and sometimes challenging (um, was that a projectile poop?). But that makes the rewards — the kickoff gummy smile, the first sugariness sounds — even more worth information technology.

Wondering what y'all tin can await at the 2-month well-baby visit? Hither's a quick look.

The physical checkup

Does your baby of a sudden seem longer when she's on the changing tabular array? Equally your constantly squirming, always-growing little 1 exercises her arms and legs, her limbs loosen upwardly and her muscles stretch out, making her appear to take added inches nearly overnight.

Of course, the doc or nurse volition measure her during her regular physical examination, so you'll know for sure — approximately that is, since measuring a wriggly newborn is an imprecise science.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that moms exist screened for postpartum depression at this checkup, and so inquire if you accept any questions virtually your moods or your partner's.

Developmental milestones

Your baby's torso and brain are busy these days. Thank you to big strides in how well your little one's using her senses, she'south much more aware of the huge world effectually her. Here are some of babe's developmental milestones the pediatrician may check for or ask most:

  • Smiling in response to a smile, aka infant's "social grin"
  • Vocalizing in ways too crying (yay!), similar sweet footling coos
  • Reacting to loud sounds — maybe by turning her head, crying or quieting
  • Opening her hands briefly
  • Watching you move
  • Looking at a toy for several seconds
  • Lifting her caput during tummy time
  • Kick energetically when lying on her back

Do milestones vary with premature babies?

If your baby arrived early enough to require NICU care, she'south already had many more than her share of checkups (and tests and procedures) during her hospital stay. Still, her commencement in-part pediatrician visit, whenever it comes, will be momentous — and an opportunity to inquire all the questions you've collected since leaving the round-the-clock intendance of the NICU.

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1 of the beginning questions you may take: How volition my baby's development lucifer up to that of her full-term peers?

More often than not, development will runway according to a preemie's "adjusted" age — based on the appointment she was due, not the date she actually arrived (and so if she arrived ii months early, she volition probable reach 2-month milestones closer to 4 months).

This developmental gap typically narrows over time and disappears by the 2nd birthday, at which betoken she'll be assessed past her nascence age.

What about baby's immunization schedule? This is usually prepare to her nativity age, which means she will probably get her immunizations right on time, no adjustments needed! Check with your baby's physician if yous have concerns or are unclear almost your preemie's immunization schedule.

two-calendar month shots

Needle pricks can wait a lot worse than they really feel. But remember, vaccines will virtually always be harder on you than they are for your infant — and a few tears (on baby's side or yours) are a small price to pay to protect your baby from vaccine-preventable illnesses.

Here are the immunizations recommended by the Centers for Illness Command and Prevention (CDC) that your infant will receive at two months:

  • DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis)
  • Hib (haemophilus influenzae type b)
  • IPV (inactivated poliovirus)
  • PCV13 (pneumococcal)
  • RV (rotavirus), which is an oral vaccine, and not a needle prick
  • HepB (hepatitis B), the second of three doses

Ask the dr. or nurse to show you how to concur your babe for comfort during vaccinations. Also, feel free to inquire questions nigh the vaccines, the diseases they help prevent and how to care for your infant after vaccinations.

Questions to ask your dr.

You lot've been writing down all your non-urgent questions for the doctor, right? They really do stack up between visits. At 2 months, you may exist wondering about the post-obit:

  • How exercise I choose skillful kid care, especially if I'thou going back to work?
  • What should I know nigh pumping, storing and bottle-feeding breast milk?
  • When can I expect my infant to surrender nighttime feeds?
  • How tin can I prevent SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)?
  • How do I know if I'chiliad giving my baby plenty stimulation?
  • What are good toys to buy for my baby that encourage her evolution?

Don't forget to make an date for the iv-month visit before you leave!