Key checklist for this stage
- At 2 months, babies in Korea get their first national vaccines (DTaP, polio, Hib, pneumococcal, rotavirus).
- Check that hepatitis B dose 2 (at 1 month) has been given.
- Do a little tummy time every day while the baby is awake and an adult is watching.
- Keep putting the baby to sleep on their back on a flat surface with nothing soft.
- A temperature of 38°C or higher under 3 months needs medical care right away.
- Decide in advance what you will do when crying pushes you to your limit.
Development
Around 2 months, a social smile appears when you talk to the baby, and they look at faces and make sounds like 'ah' and 'oo'. They briefly lift their head on their tummy, and toward 3–4 months they hold their head more steadily when held.
Babies bring their hands to their mouth and follow moving objects with their eyes. Development varies from baby to baby, so a few days' difference is nothing to worry about. But if after 2 months the baby does not react at all to loud sounds, or does not look at faces or smile, discuss it at a checkup.
The crying peak
Even healthy babies cry more from a few weeks old, usually peaking around 6–8 weeks and easing by 3–4 months. Long bouts of crying in the evening without a clear reason are common. It is not because parents are doing something wrong.
- First check hunger, diaper, heat or cold, and burping.
- Find what works for your baby: holding and slow rocking, a low 'shh' sound, a walk.
- If nothing works, lay the baby in a safe sleep space and step out of the room for a few minutes to breathe.
- Never shake a baby. Shaken baby syndrome can cause serious brain damage.
Feeding and sleep
Breast milk or formula alone is still enough. Water, juice, and solid food are not needed yet. Feed on hunger cues; if wet diapers and weight gain are fine, the baby is eating well. If breastfeeding, continue vitamin D supplements.
Some babies sleep a little longer at night, but many still need night feeds. Bright, active days and dark, quiet nights help with day-night rhythm. If you swaddle, stop as soon as the baby shows signs of trying to roll.
Health and vaccines
Under Korea's national immunization schedule, at 2 months babies get dose 1 of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), polio (IPV), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcal, and rotavirus vaccines. The rotavirus vaccine has a set window for the first dose and cannot be given if it is too late, so keeping to the schedule matters.
A mild fever, swelling at the injection site, and fussiness after vaccines are common and usually pass in a day or two. Vaccine dates and the next appointments can be checked on the KDCA immunization helper service.
Play and connection
- Bring your face close and talk, and copy the baby's sounds back to have a 'conversation'.
- Sing songs, and describe what you are doing as you change diapers.
- Start tummy time with a few minutes several times a day and build up. Putting your face in front of the baby helps them lift their head.
- Show things that catch the eye and ear, like black-and-white or bold patterns and rattles.
Caring for parents
This is a time of weeks of broken sleep. Take turns sleeping and accept help from family and friends. If low mood continues after birth, you feel no affection for the baby, or anxiety is severe, it may be postpartum depression, so see a doctor. Fathers and partners can experience depression too.
Vaccines & checkups in this stage
- General checkup 1 — 14–35 days after birth
Korea's Childhood Vaccine Schedule → Infant and Child Health Checkups →
FAQ
My baby cries for hours every evening. Is that normal?
Crying commonly peaks around 6–8 weeks and usually eases by 3–4 months. But get checked if there is fever, vomiting, floppiness, or refusal to feed, or if the crying sounds different from usual.
Which vaccines are given at 2 months?
Under Korea's national schedule, dose 1 of DTaP, polio, Hib, pneumococcal, and rotavirus. Check your baby's dates on the KDCA immunization helper service.
When should tummy time start, and for how long?
From the newborn period, while the baby is awake and an adult is watching, start with a few minutes several times a day and build up. If the baby gets sleepy, lay them on their back to sleep.
When do babies hold up their head?
Briefly lifting the head on the tummy happens around 2 months, and holding it steady when held usually around 3–4 months. If the baby still has very little head control after 4 months, raise it at a checkup.
Sources
- KDCA immunization helper service (Korea)
- Korean Pediatric Society
- AAP HealthyChildren.org
- CDC Learn the Signs. Act Early.
Medical information is for reference only. This is general information and does not replace diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your child's doctor. In an emergency in Korea, call 119.
Related
The first month is when baby and parents get used to each other. Good feeding, safe sleep, and spotting warning signs early are really what matters most.
4–6 mo4–6 monthsBabies roll, reach and grab, and laugh out loud. Get ready to start solids around 6 months, and check safety again as they move more.
Korea's Childhood Vaccine ScheduleIn Korea, national vaccines are free at public health centers and designated clinics. Plan ahead using the standard schedule, and check exact dates and your child's record on the KDCA Immunization Helper.
Sleep and safe sleepWith baby sleep, how safely comes before how long. Set up a safe sleep space first, then support sleep with age-appropriate expectations and a steady routine.
BreastfeedingBreastfeeding is not a skill that works perfectly from day one; it is something parent and baby learn together. Getting help early, instead of struggling alone, is the biggest key.
When Your Child Has a FeverFever is a sign the body is fighting infection, and how your child is doing matters more than the number. The exception: a baby under 3 months with 38°C or higher needs a doctor right away, however well they seem.
Postpartum Recovery and Postpartum DepressionThe weeks and months after birth are a time when body and mind recover together. Struggling is not a sign of weakness, and asking for help is also something you do for your baby.