Your baby at 4 months
With improving co-ordination and understanding, your baby is showing even more enthusiasm about his body bits, toys and the games you play .
What’s happening with your baby?
By 4 months, he may have reached the following stages:
Yummy. Toes. He’s just discovered his feet - and to find out more about them, he may even pop his toes in his mouth. A skill we later lose!
Head held high: He will have really good control of his head by now. If you hold him on your lap, he’ll keep his own head up, though sudden movements may make his head wobbly again.
Da Da? He’s making more and more syllable sounds now. Your partner may swagger when he hears him say ‘da’ (he hasn’t a clue what it means yet, but do you really want to disillusion dad? Depends how sleep-deprived you are, I suppose!)
How you can help your baby this month
Look at Me: He benefits hugely from interaction at this age, so try to give him as much positive attention as you can – whether it be praising him for shaking a rattle or rolling over, telling him excitedly what a lovely smile he has or laughing at his tricks. He’s really sensitive to your tone of voice so a firm word from you could reduce him to tears.
Balancing Act: Help him learn about balance by swaying and rocking him slightly as he sits on your lap, smiling and singing a gentle song as you do.
Your baby’s health
Solid or not? Advice on when to wean your baby has changed a lot over the years. It used to be thought that four months was about the right time to introduce solids but since 2003 the Department of Health has advised to wait until 6 months – before then your baby’s digestive system may not be ready.
Play ideas for your baby
Go on, surprise me: He loves games that give him a delighted surprise. Try covering your face with your hands or a towel and then playing peek-a-boo. Or introduce a jack in the box or a friendly hand puppet brought out from behind your back.
Your baby’s development may not be exactly the same as these descriptions since all children will develop at their own pace. This is an approximate guide of some of the new skills your little one may be developing. If you have any concerns, always speak to your health visitor or GP.
