At 4 months old, babies are growing more social and moving more purposefully. Here are some developmental milestones that most babies reach by this age:
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Physical Development: Babies can raise up on their arms when placed on their tummy and keep their head level when propped in a sitting position. They can also roll over and reach for an object. They can pick up objects with their fingers and thumb and will try to put their hands (and objects they hold) in their mouths.
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Communication Development: Babies love to babble, coo, play, and mimic the sounds they hear. Their babbling may include more vowel and consonant combos, and they may start to say "Mama" and "Dada" soon.
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Feeding: Most babies are still on a liquid-only (or mostly liquid-only) diet. Some parents choose to begin solids at the 4-month mark, but its recommended to check with a doctor first. Experts recommend that most babies wait until they’re 5 or 6 months old to start eating regular food.
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Sleep: By about 4 months old, most babies sleep 10 to 12 hours at night, waking up for a feeding or two, and nap for three to five hours a day, spaced out.
To encourage your babys development, you can try the following activities:
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Hang a colorful mobile over your baby’s crib, making sure it is safely beyond their reach. Let them marvel at their image and movements in a mirror.
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Play peekaboo, which helps them learn about object permanence. They love seeing your face appear and reappear!
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Provide safe opportunities for your baby to reach for toys, kick at toys, and explore what is around them. For example, put them on a blanket with safe toys.
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Let your baby have time to move and interact with people and objects throughout the day. Try not to keep your baby in swings, strollers, or bouncy seats for too long.
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Sing and talk to your baby as you help them “exercise” (move their body) for a few minutes. Gently bend and move their arms and legs up and down.
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Play games, such as peek-a-boo. You can cover your eyes with your hands and then uncover and say “peek-a-boo.” Watch for your baby’s smile or other signs they are enjoying the game.
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Hold and talk to your baby; smile and be cheerful while you do.
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Have quiet play times when you “read” or sing to your baby.
