2-Month-Old: Week 3

Your baby is an excellent listener. He recognizes your voice, and he'll show you his pleasure by smiling at the sound of your greetings. You may notice that your baby seems to freeze when he hears a new sound — and it's only after he can figure out where it came from that he starts kicking or moving his arms again.

He's also excitedly using all five of his senses to learn about his world. You can actually see how hard he's working to assimilate the new information he's exposed to every day. If something grabs his attention, notice how hard he focuses on it and stares. He's taking it in on many levels.

More things that fascinate your baby now: the contrasting colors of a new toy, the motion of a ceiling fan or rustling tree leaves, the sound of running water, and the clattering of pots in the kitchen sink.

How your baby's growing

He's no Fred Astaire yet, but your little one's movements are getting a bit more coordinated. You'll notice that the jerky arm and leg movements of his newborn days have given way to smoother, more circular motions, especially when he's watching people.

Give your baby enough space to stretch and move his arms and legs. Lay a blanket on the floor and let him move as he pleases. These movements can help your baby strengthen and tone his developing muscles. On his tummy, he'll start to push off with his legs — the first step in getting on the move.

• Learn more fascinating facts about your 2-month-old's development

Your life: Don't forget birth control!

Quick: If you're breastfeeding, can you get pregnant? What if you haven't had a period yet since giving birth?

The answers are yes and yes. Even if you're only sexually semiactive, it's possible to conceive. Contrary to folk wisdom, breastfeeding itself is not a contraceptive, and you'll begin to ovulate before you have a period, but you can't be sure when that will be. So it's wise to use contraception unless you wouldn't mind giving your newborn a closely spaced sibling.

Your doctor can map out all the options, but here are some considerations:

What did you use before you got pregnant?
You can't necessarily pick up where you left off. If you used a diaphragm before you got pregnant, be sure to have it refitted, as your body may have changed due to childbirth.If you were on a hormonal form of birth control (the pill, patch, or ring) before becoming pregnant and are breastfeeding, you won't want to resume taking it, because the hormones can affect the quality and quantity of breast milk. Nursing moms need a different formulation, such as the progesterone-only minipill.

Do you want to try something new?
An IUD (intrauterine device), for example, fits better in women who have given birth than in those who've never had children.

Have you considered using condoms?
Condoms can be a good choice for nursing moms because they don't interfere with breast milk.

3 questions about: Fever

How do I decide if symptoms should be mentioned to my baby's doctor?
You should feel comfortable calling the doctor's office anytime a gut feeling tells you to, day or night. Symptoms worth reporting in a young baby include worrisome changes in her temperament, changes in appetite or an inability to keep food down,high fever (see below), abnormally loose bowel movements, a persistent rash, eye or ear drainage, and prolonged, unusual crying. Any of these could signal a serious illness, depending on their severity, duration, and accompanying symptoms. Always get immediate medical attention if your baby has trouble breathing or is having seizures.

When should I call a doctor about a fever?
It's your decision. Your baby's overall behavior and the presence of additional symptoms is usually a better indicator of illness than an exact thermometer reading. Remember that fever is your baby's way of fighting infection, so it's essentially a good thing, not an illness in itself. Body temperature also varies by time of day (lower in early morning, higher in late afternoon or evening). The American Academy of Pediatrics considers a fever to be a reading over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Because readings can vary depending on how you took the temperature (rectally, by ear, under the armpit), tell your doctor the method you used when you report a fever.

What information should I be prepared to give?
When you need to call the doctor, stay calm and provide as thorough a description of the symptoms as you can. Tell when they began, how long they have lasted, and if anything unusual was taking place (such as teething or travel). Take your baby's temperature before you call. Also mention if your baby is currently on any medications and remind the nurse or doctor you speak with if your baby has a medical condition. Because medical staff sees many children each day, they may not remember your individual child's history right off the bat.