Neurological development from 0 to 2 months

Motor skills and postural attitude

At the motor level, in the first month he can perform a lateral deviation of the head prone (face down) and, during the second month, he can slightly raise his head while lying face down. The neck muscles are already stronger and the baby lets his head fall back less.

The first weeks it tends to have a flexed posture when left lying down, at the 4th week this flexed posture begins to decrease and the baby at two months is already more relaxed and with the limbs in extension when we stretch it.

If it is held as if it were standing, the legs are pushed as if it wanted to walk, it is the and usually disappears between the 3rd and 6th week.

Open and close your arms, as if giving a hug when falling backwards: Moro's reflection. It disappears at 3-4 months of age.

Turning the head to one side directs the arm in the same direction: search reflex.

Handling

At this stage the grasp reflex, both palmar and plantar, is very present. This means that the baby will close the hand or arch the foot when noticing pressure on the palm or sole. The palmar reflex disappears between 3-4 months and the plantar pressure reflex at 12-18 months.

During the first month his hands are predominantly closed. You usually relax them when you are sound asleep, after eating, and relaxed. In the second month of life he begins to open his hands more frequently.

It sucks everything that is offered to it, this is the suction reflex. It is a basic reflex for food.

Social

From the first weeks he has a great interest in faces. Vision has yet to mature and they cannot focus properly beyond 20-30 cm. During the first month of life, the baby will learn to focus his gaze better and better.

It is in the second month when he begins to fix his gaze on objects and can continue to carry out a horizontal optical pursuit.

The baby is already smiling, first he will smile at mother and then at the rest of the family. In the second month, the social smile begins: he intentionally smiles at adults to interact with them, in this way he is able to communicate how happy he feels and reinforces the interaction with the adult, especially with his parents who feel very comforted.

In the first month they react with a start to sudden sounds, they can cry, be quiet or remain immobile when listening to it.

He spends much of his time sleeping and is awake when he eats.

Language

Makes sounds and reacts to voice and sound. Recognizes and reassures the voice of their parents. He turns his head towards the familiar voices, especially the mother's. Crying begins to be differentiated at the end of this stage.

Warning signs

• Does not stare and does not respond to any type of stimulation
• Does not cry or scream
• Does not react to sudden noises
• Face down, unable to lift head off the surface
• Does not start visual monitoring of people at two months of age