Your 4 month old baby's growth and development
Updated: Nov 14, 2022
Introduction
For the first four months of your baby's life, you'll be learning about how your baby grows and develops. This article will walk you through what to expect during this time period and provide tips for caring for your four-month-old.
Your 4-month-old's development
At 4 months, your baby is likely to be reaching new milestones in every area of development. Here are some things to look out for:
Your baby's growing body and brain continue to develop at a rapid rate. At this stage, they'll begin to close their fists and extend their arms towards objects they want. Their legs will also develop strength as they start crawling and standing on two feet.
When it comes to communication skills, your baby will begin making more sounds that you can understand—like "ahh," "oooh," or "ahhh." They may also babble and imitate words like mommy or daddy!
Physical development is another area where babies show huge improvement between 4-6 months old: they'll be able to lift their heads off the floor with ease; sit unsupported for up to 5 minutes at a time; reach out with both hands when being held upright (a sign of hand-eye coordination); move from side-to-side when placed on the floor in an sitting position; roll over from back-to-stomach position on its own; take several steps while holding onto furniture (another sign of walking readiness).
Your baby's changing body
Your baby is developing at a rapid pace, and every day they’re learning new skills. At four months old, your baby can now:
Understand speech more clearly.
Mimic sounds you make and react to them with joy or surprise.
Smile at you in recognition of your face and voice (and those around them).
Tighten the grasp around objects with each hand separately — an important milestone for future development of fine motor skills! You might notice this first when playing peek-a-boo or waving bye-bye.
At four months old, your little one may also be showing signs of some separation anxiety once you leave the room. This can be tough for both of you as it means spending less time together, but try not to feel too guilty about it! It’s normal for babies this age to show signs of distress when separated from their parents even just briefly (like during diaper changes), but most will adjust quickly once they realize mommy or daddy will soon return
Communication milestones
Your baby is now able to make some sounds. He may coo, babble and "talk" with you. This is a good time to start talking with him, so he learns how language works.
Your child will follow objects with her eyes and can recognize familiar faces by 4 months old. Your baby will be more aware of what's happening around her, so pay attention to what she sees while breastfeeding or playing together. She'll also enjoy looking at mirrors!
Your baby will smile when she feels happy or contented and at other times too—sometimes when she's just checking out your face! This might be a sign that she recognizes you as the person who helps feed her or change her diaper (and sometimes just because). It often happens when you're talking about something funny or interesting; maybe even making silly faces together could elicit this reaction from your little one! If this doesn't work for you yet then try tickling him instead...it tends not only makes babies laugh but also gets them smiling as well (and hopefully into giggling fits which is even better). Just remember not all babies are going through these stages at the same time--so don't worry if yours isn't quite there yet either way we know they'll get there soon enough :)
Physical milestones
These are the physical milestones your baby should reach at 4 months old:
Baby can hold head up for minutes at a time, including when being held upright by you.
Baby can roll from back to front and vice versa, but only with great difficulty.
Baby can sit without help for several seconds at a time, after pausing briefly on his bottom and pushing himself backward into a sitting position. He may even be able to bear some weight on his legs when doing this (though he won't be able to support much).
Baby can stand with support for 1-2 seconds before falling over backward; however, she'll enjoy playing in her crib or bouncer as long as you keep holding her upright whenever she wants it!
Playtime ideas
Playtime is critical in a 4-month-old's development, so it's important to have plenty of safe and fun options on hand. Here are some playtime ideas for you and your baby:
Sitting on the floor with your baby, put a few toys on the ground within reach of her arms. Let her reach out and grab them as they come towards her. This will help strengthen her grasp muscles while she learns how to use her hands independently!
Place small objects such as seashells or pieces of candy in cupcake liners or bowls and cover them with cloth napkins so they can't roll away from your baby if she knocks over the bowl or liner. Your little one will love watching these items move when she pulls out any cloth covering them!
Fill up an old laundry basket with stuffed animals that have been cut open (not too much stuffing removed!), then put some soft blankets inside along with some larger stuffed animals such as bears--this will give the basket extra cushioning while still allowing room enough for all those adorable plushies within!
Baby sleep patterns and care tips
Now that you've gotten a handle on your baby's basic needs, it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty. The next four months will be a time of rapid development for your child. Here are some of the things you can expect:
Sleep patterns: By this point in life, your little one should be sleeping at least 12 hours a day (and more if he or she is still breastfeeding). Don't worry about whether their sleep schedule aligns with yours; it won't matter until they're older and ready for school! If your baby has trouble falling asleep without being held or rocked by you, don't hesitate to keep doing so—but know that eventually he'll learn how to put himself down for naps and bedtime.
Eating habits: Babies tend to eat around every 2-3 hours during the day (and sometimes even at night), though it might vary depending on how old they are and what else is happening in their lives that day/week/month/year (for example, teething). Keep track of how often your little one eats—you'll want this information when planning meals around his eating schedule later on down the road!
Here is how to care for a four-month old baby.
You may be worried about your baby's growth and development. Don't worry, though! Your baby is growing and developing in many ways every day.
Your baby is learning to communicate, learn, play and make friends with other babies his or her age. This can be a stressful time for you as well because there are so many things you have to keep track of: when it's time for bed, how often they eat and what they eat. It can be overwhelming at first but once you get into a routine it gets easier over time.
Your child will also start sleeping through the night at 4 months old which means less stress on everyone involved! Make sure that you check out our guide on caring for a four month old baby if this sounds like something that interests yourself/your family right now :)
Conclusion
It’s incredible to see how much babies grow in their first year. From the day you bring them home, they’re making new experiences and learning about the world around them. And at four months old, your baby is no exception! They may be more aware of their surroundings now than ever before—which means you’ll have lots of opportunities to bond with them during playtime or just by talking with them while they sleep.
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