Commonly Asked Questions at the 2 Month Visit

Many parents have similar questions at their baby's 2 month appointment so I wanted to address some of the common ones.

1.  Will putting cereal in the bottle make them sleep through the night?
 No, this is an old wive's tale that is not true.  Babies usually start sleeping through the night between 2 and 4 months of age.  They have to be able to eat enough throughout the day and be awake enough during the day so that they sleep at night.  I recommend feeding and waking your baby at least every 3 hours during the day to help them.  We usually start cereal in a bowl (not bottle) between 4-6 months of age to help them learn to use a spoon.

2. What do I do if my baby runs a fever?
Fever is a temperature at or above 100.4 degrees (38 degrees Celsius). Fever is the body's way of fighting infection. It does not hurt you but makes you feel bad.  If your baby (2 months of age or older) runs a fever and is uncomfortable we recommend giving acetaminophen (Tylenol). The dose is listed on your child's handout from their well child check.  Babies cannot have ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) until they are 6 months of age.  Please call us the next day if your infant 2-6 months of age is running a fever.  Young infant's immune systems are weak and we like to see them to make sure there is no sign of a serious illness.

3. What should I do with my baby?
Talking to your baby is the best way to help them learn. I do not recommend baby talk -- the more words your child hears, the more they learn!  Vary your child's position. Put them on their tummy when they are awake and put some toys around them.  A blanket on the floor works well for this so you don't have to worry about them falling off anything. Take them for a walk -- babies love to be outside!  We do not recommend that children under age 2 years watch TV, videos or computers. There have been some studies that show when children under age 2 watch screens they learn less words than children who do not. Children learn best from people!

4. When can I travel with my baby?
You can travel with your child at any age.  Keep in mind that when you travel you are around a lot of people so your child is at increased risk of getting sick. Have people wash their hands before touching your baby and keep sick relatives and friends away.  When your child is older avoid public play places when you are traveling.