Baby's Care and Development
Your one to two month old

Your baby is learning your voice and your touch. And you are probably learning the different cries for when your baby is wet, hungry, tired or wants to be held. This is a time of growth for your baby.

Feeding Your Baby

Your baby needs only breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula. Giving your baby other foods (such as cereal) at this time may cause constipation, tummy aches or food sensitivities (allergies).

Breastfeeding

• Your baby may nurse longer or want to be fed more often than before. Nurse your baby every two to three hours.

Bottle-feeding Formula

• Babies who drink formula will probably drink four to five ounces of formula every three hours.

Caring for Your Baby

Bathing

• Babies only need three to four baths a week.
• Use a wash cloth and warm water for washing your baby's head and face.
• For safety, always keep at least one hand on the baby.

Skin Care

• Wash your baby's clothes in a mild soap.
• Ask your doctor or nurse before using lotion on dry or flaky skin. You may need a special lotion.

Mouth and Dental Care

• Wipe your baby's gums with a clean washcloth every day.
• If you have been told to give your baby fluoride drops, continue them until you are told to stop. Do not give more than is recommended.

Sleeping

• For baby's safe sleep, always put your baby to bed on its back, unless your doctor told you not to.
• Most babies this age sleep 14 to 16 hours a day. Your baby may be different.
• If you have questions or concerns, call your healthcare provider.

Visit Baby's Safe Sleep to learn more about safe sleep practices that reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Health Care

• Your baby will begin his or her regular check-ups and shots (immunizations) to protect against serious diseases.
• New moms also need to have a check-up during this time.
• Be sure to keep all your baby's appointments.
• Ask your healthcare provider any questions you may have.

If your baby does not have health insurance, check out the section on Health Check and N.C. Health Choice for Children, publicly-funded child health insurance programs your child may qualify for. For information on benefits, eligibility, how to apply and more, visit the Child Health Insurance portion of this Web site.

Your Baby's Development

Although your baby spends a lot of time sleeping, there are lots of activities you can do with your baby to help your baby grow and develop. See How We Grow - Baby's First Year can give you specific ways you can help your baby learn to trust, feel comfortable, communicate and become aware of how his or her body moves. If the above link opens too slowly, try the plain text version.

Your Baby's Safety

• Never leave your baby alone.
• If you use an infant carrier, stay within an arm's reach of it at all times.
• To prevent drowning, always stay with your baby when giving a bath.
• If your baby was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), see Keeping Baby Safe at Home. (If this piece downloads too slowly, try the plain text version.)
• Keep your baby away from secondhand smoke. (For tips on how to deal with secondhand smoke, download Oh Baby! We want to keep you safe from secondhand smoke. If this piece downloads too slowly, try the plain text version)

Visit the Safety tips page to learn how to keep your baby safe now and as your baby gets older -- including reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS.

Other Links

North Carolina

NC Family Health Resource Line Information and Support Within Your Reach

Find out more about , NC Family Health Resource Line or call Monday - Friday 8 A.M. - 5 P.M. closed holidays TTY for the hearing impaired: 1-800-976-1922 Services in English and Spanish

WIC Program Breastfeeding and Support WIC strives to increase the incidence and duration of breastfeeding among women enrolled in the Program.

Carolinas Poison Center - 1-800-222-1222

National

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Last updated: September 2008