2 months old: Gross motor skill development

Gross motor skill development allows your baby to improve their balance and coordination and use their larger muscles. These abilities will help your little one master certain movements, such as turning over, sitting up, creeping, crawling, walking, running, climbing, and jumping. Developing gross motor skills is also an important step towards developing fine motor skills.

Gross motor skill development: 2 months old

At this age:

• Your baby has more control over their head movements. For instance, they can turn their head to both sides when lying on their back. However, they still have trouble keeping their head in the middle for very long.

• They move their head around to look at things that interest them. They are especially interested in contrasting colours and human faces.
• When on their back, they lift and wiggle their arms and legs and “pedal” when they’re excited.
• Your baby can briefly lift their head to a 45° angle when lying on their tummy. They keep it in the middle or turn it from side to side.
• When on their tummy, they rest on their forearms.
• When you carry your baby upright in your arms or a baby carrier, or hold them in a sitting position, their head is still unstable, but they’re increasingly trying to hold it up.
• When your baby is placed on their side, they may stay this position for a few moments before involuntarily falling back onto their back.
• When your baby lies on their back and turns their head to one side, they may exhibit the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (the arm and leg on the same side extend, while the limbs on the other side bend).
• They sometimes jerk involuntarily (Moro reflex) when you lay them on their back or when they make fast movements, since they can’t fully control their head yet. However, this happens less than it did in their first month of life.
• They can bring their hands to their mouth.

Over the next few weeks, your baby will begin to do the following:

• Lift their head from a 45° to 90° angle for a few minutes when lying on their tummy.
• Move their arms and legs more intentionally.
• Lift their upper body off the ground by pushing with their forearms and hands when on their stomach.

How can you help your child progress?

Every child is different and develops at their own pace. That said, you can help foster your baby’s development by using the Comfort, Play, and Teach parenting approach, which is designed to easily integrate in your daily routine. The table below shows simple, ageappropriate ways to help your child develop their gross motor skills.

Scientific review: Josiane Caron Santha, occupational therapist Research and copywriting:The Naître et grandir team Updated: November 2025

Photo: GettyImages/hxyume