It's time to exercise
Two-month-old babies have strong reflexes. And the muscles are already sufficiently developed to master conscious movements. It's time to include exercises in your play!
The grasping reflex is one of the most pronounced at this age [1]. If you put your index finger in your son's palm, he will cling to it tenaciously and will not let go when you pull.
Try to take advantage of this. When your babe is lying on his back, let him grab your fingers and gently pull him up. He will try to lift his head from the mattress. This is how the neck muscles are trained [2].
You can also press your palms firmly against baby's feet. He will push off from your palms [2]. This muscle action will come in handy when baby learns to crawl and walk.
From about two months of age, the child can be laid on his back or stomach on a mat with different textures: smooth, velvety, rough and rustling surfaces. This helps him develop sensory perception.
One of the simplest and most pleasant exercises you can do with baby boy is to move a bright toy in front of your son’s face. He will follow it with his eyes, and over time he will begin to turn his head after the toy [2]. Watch out for smiles and coos of excitement!
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John R. Best, Effects of physical activity on children’s executive function: Contributions of experimental research on aerobic exercise, Developmental Review, Volume 30, Issue 4, 2010, Pages 331-351.
