2 Month Well-Child Visit

The two month well-child visit is a very important one. There are several developmental milestones that infants reach by 2 months, and this visit is when they start receiving vaccinations. What can you expect at this visit with the Pediatrician?

Vitals – Heart rate and respiratory rate will be counted, temperature is taken.

Growth measurements – your infant will once again have growth measurements done, including length, weight, and head circumference. These are plotted on a growth chart that is specific to your baby’s gender and will be compared to the previous measurements to make sure growth occurs appropriately and proportionally. Remember, the goal is for your baby to grow consistently on the curve.  I often tell parents that I am more interested with seeing steady growth along a curve more than worrying about which curve the infant is on. Growth curves are measured in “percentiles” where 50th percentile is the average measurement for age and gender. Infants who fall above the 50th percentile are “above average” for that measurement, while infants who fall below the 50th percentile are “below average.” Keep in mind that many factors affect where your baby falls on the curve – genetics, feeding patterns, prematurity.

Development – 2 month old infants are becoming more interactive.

• Social: They smile responsively
• Speech & Language: They make cooing noises.
• Gross (large) motor: They have better head control while sitting upright, and are lifting head higher during tummy time.
• Fine motor: They can track objects or faces with their eyes from one side to the other. 

Questions from the Pediatrician – your baby’s doctor will ask questions about feeding, burping, sleeping, voiding (urination) and stooling (bowel movements), spit up, and development. If breastfeeding exclusively, an extra Vitamin D supplement will be recommended for your baby. 

Exam – your infant will have a head-to-toe exam at every well-child visit. 

Vaccinations – the CDC recommended vaccination schedule begins at 2 months of age. Infants receive DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis), Hepatitis B, Polio, Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b), Pneumococcal, and Rotavirus vaccinations. Many offices will give a combination vaccine that will reduce the number of “pokes” your infant receives. I talk about recommended vaccines in detail in my post about infant vaccinations, if you would like more information. 

Questions from you – please do not feel hesitant about asking questions at your infant’s visits. There are no “stupid questions.” It is the goal of your child’s Pediatrician to help you be the best parent you can, but we need to know your concerns and questions in order to do that.

Safety information – part of every well-child visit is discussion of safety that is appropriate for age. For infants, this includes:

• sleep practices – infants should sleep on their back in their own basinette or crib. There should be no extra blankets, pillows, crib bumpers, stuffed animals, or sleep positioners in the crib. Infants should never sleep in parents’ bed, in swings, or in reclined sleepers. 
• car seat instructions – infants should be in their infant car seats, in the back seat, facing backwards. 
• water safety during bath time – infants should never be left alone in the water, even if it is only a few inches or only for a short amount of time. Drowning occurs quickly. 
• fall risks – even when they are not yet able to roll independently, infants are capable of moving around in their environment. They should not be left alone on couches, changing tables, beds, or any other elevated surface. 

Next visit: 4 months

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