Second Month Postpartum Update: Life With a Newborn as a Pediatric Dietitian & IBCLC
What a month this has been.
We went from those sleepy, curled-up newborn cuddles to a baby who is now smiling, cooing, and spending more time awake and engaged with the world. While she’s still very much a “good sleeper,” we’re starting to see her personality shine, and it’s been the sweetest transition.
As a pediatric dietitian and IBCLC, I also get a lot of questions about feeding, growth, and routines during this stage – so I’m sharing both a personal update and some evidence-based insight into what’s been working for us.
Disclaimer: affiliate links are used throughout this post and I do receive commission if you purchase using my links.
Growth & Development at 2 Months
At her two-month appointment, she weighed 11 lbs 10 oz and is tracking beautifully along her growth curve. That’s always one of my biggest markers of reassurance; steady, consistent growth tells us feeding is going well.
She’s still wearing newborn clothes, with 0–3 month outfits just a little too big. My petite girl. We also just moved up to size 1 diapers, which oddly feels like a milestone worth celebrating.
Developmentally, she is:
- Smiling and cooing
- Tracking faces (especially her brothers)
- Noticing and sucking on her hands
- Becoming more alert with longer wake windows
She isn’t grasping objects just yet, but we’re getting close.She also really enjoys tummy time and has been doing it for extended periods of time lately!
Our Feeding Routine (Breastfeeding + Bottle)
We are still nursing 10–12 times per day, which is very normal at this age. The biggest shift? She’s starting to wake less frequently overnight.
A typical night looks like:
- Bedtime: 9:30–10:30 PM
- Wake: around 1 AM to feed
- Wake: 4–5 AM to feed
- Up for the day: 7–7:30 AM
During the day, we don’t follow a strict schedule, honestly, that’s nearly impossible with two older brothers. Instead, we follow a responsive, cue-based feeding approach, which I strongly recommend both professionally and personally. I also want to highlight that we do a lot of contact naps or on-the-go naps during the day just because of our unpredictable schedule. She is still napping occasionally in the bassinet during the day but we have not started having naps in the crib in her room just yet.
She sometimes nurses on one side, sometimes both; and that’s completely normal.
One Side or Both When Breastfeeding?
This is one of the most common questions I get as an IBCLC, and the answer is simple:
It depends. There is no one “right” way.
Milk intake varies based on:
- A mother’s milk storage capacity
- Baby’s age and appetite
- Time since the last feed
- Growth spurts and activity level
For example:
- Some babies get a full feed from one side and are completely satisfied
- Others need both sides to meet their needs
The key is to follow your baby’s cues.
When weight gain and diaper output are appropriate, we can trust that our babies know how much they need. Pressuring a baby to keep feeding or to take both sides when they’re showing signs of being finished can actually create stress at the breast.
Our goal is always responsive feeding: offer, observe, and let baby lead.
Pumping & Bottle Feeding (What We’re Doing)
At this point, I’m not pumping extra. We have a small freezer stash of about 30 ounces, and I only pump when I need to replace a bottle feed.
I’m currently using the Baby Buddha pump, and it’s my absolute favorite.
She takes a bottle really well when needed, typically 2–2.5 ounces per feed – though I know she takes more when directly breastfeeding.
When to Introduce a Bottle
If you plan to use bottles at all, the ideal window to introduce one is:
Between 3–4 weeks postpartum, once breastfeeding is well established. This being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if guidelines start to shift towards slightly earlier bottle introduction to prevent a baby from refusing the bottle when offered. We have had to introduce a bottle early on due to her medical complications at birth and she has not had any issues transitioning back and forth from breast to bottle.
Waiting too long (around 10–12 weeks or later) can sometimes increase the likelihood of bottle refusal.
If bottles need to be introduced earlier for medical or personal reasons, that’s okay. Using the right technique makes a big difference, which brings me to…
Why We Use Side-Lying Paced Bottle Feeding
We use side-lying paced bottle feeding, which is a research-backed method that helps:
- Reduce overfeeding
- Improve suck-swallow-breathe coordination
- Decrease choking and gagging
- Support better digestion and less gas
- Make transitioning between breast and bottle easier
How to do it:
- Lay baby on their side with head slightly elevated
- Keep head, shoulders, and hips aligned
- Hold the bottle parallel to the ground
- Allow baby to actively suck (instead of milk flowing freely)
- Pause frequently to mimic breastfeeding
Feeds should take about 10–15 minutes, similar to a nursing session.
This approach allows babies to stay in control of the feeding, just like they are at the breast.
Sleep, Naps & Daily Life
She’s still a great sleeper overall, but we’re starting to see:
- More awake time during the day
- More consolidated naps
- Less frequent night wakings
We’re currently using the Kyte Baby sleep bag, with just the swaddle portion around her chest (arms out, because she absolutely hates having them restricted). She is also obsessed with being worn in the WildBird Ariel Carrier – that has been one of our most-used items this month and I highly recommend it as the best infant carrier that I have tried (and I have tried a lot of them). She also loves to swing in her Graco swing in the kitchen while I prepare food or make the boys lunches.
Personality & Life With Two Older Brothers
Her brothers are loving this stage so much more now that she can:
- Track them visually
- Smile in response to their voices
- Engage during play
She is happiest when there’s a lot going on; noise, movement, interaction. Quiet environments? Not her favorite. I have a feeling she’s going to be a social butterfly.
She also:
- Loves walks (but only if they’re fast enough!)
- Does great at stores, coffee shops, and church
- Strongly dislikes the car (we’ve had to get creative with sibling help)
Diapers, Digestion & Overall Health
Thankfully, she has had:
- No signs of food sensitivities or allergies
- Regular bowel movements (1–3 per day)
- Plenty of wet diapers
All reassuring signs of good intake and digestion.
Pacifier Use & SIDS Risk
She is definitely our biggest pacifier baby so far, and her favorite are the MAM infant pacifiers. My preferred pacifier options are the NinniCo and Soothies but unfortunately she doesn’t love those.
While every baby is different, I don’t mind pacifier use at this age – especially since some research suggests pacifier use during sleep may help reduce the risk of SIDS.
Oversupply & Clogged Ducts
I’ve continued to experience a mild oversupply, which has led to a few clogged ducts this month.
I’ve been able to resolve them by following the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) protocol, which I’ve broken down in detail in a separate post that you can read here.
Final Thoughts at 2 Months Postpartum
This month has felt like a turning point.
We’re moving out of the sleepy newborn phase and into a more interactive, expressive stage; and it’s been so fun to watch her come to life.
From a feeding standpoint, the biggest takeaway I want other moms to remember is this:
There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Follow your baby’s cues, trust your body, and focus on connection over perfection.
If you want to view all of my most used products during postpartum in one spot, click here for my amazon list!
Want more? My course is a 100% evidence-based approach to starting solids in a way that encourages a healthy dietary pattern from the start.
Check out the Starting Solids 101 Course now!
Cinthia Scott is a Registered Dietitian (RD) and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with over 10 years experience in the field of dietetics. Cinthia focuses on ensuring optimal nutrition in the first 1000 days of life to ensure optimal growth and development as well as set the stage for long-term health. Cindy is an author, starting solids expert, and advocate for caregivers receiving evidence based education and support surrounding breastfeeding and starting solids.
Cinthia is co-author of the 101beforeone Starting Solids Book, “101beforeone -baby-led feeding cookbook,” and is the founder and owner of The Baby Dietitian LLC which is her private practice built to provide virtual 1:1 services for caregivers surrounding infant nutrition, toddler nutrition, and breastfeeding support. Cinthia is also the creator of the Starting Solids 101 Program which provides caregivers 1:1 support from a Pediatric Dietitian on how to provide optimal nutrition from the start and create healthy eating habits that will last their whole lifetime. To work with Cinthia, you can access her services here.
Cinthia provides tons of free information for parents on her social media accounts as well.
- Instagram: @The.Baby.Dietitian
- Tiktok: @The.Baby.Dietitian