Developmental Milestone: 4 Months

What Most Babies Do by this Age:

Social/Emotional

• Smiles spontaneously, especially at people

• Likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops

• Copies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling or frowning

Language/Communication

• Begins to babble

• Babbles with expression and copies sounds he hears

• Cries in different ways to show hunger, pain, or being tired

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Lets you know if she is happy or sad

• Responds to affection

• Reaches for toy with one hand

• Uses hands and eyes together, such as seeing a toy and reaching for it

• Follows moving things with eyes from side to side

• Watches faces closely

• Recognizes familiar people and things at a distance

Movement/Physical Development

• Holds head steady, unsupported

• Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface

• May be able to roll over from tummy to back

• Can hold a toy and shake it and swing at dangling toys

• Brings hands to mouth

• When lying on stomach, pushes up to elbows

What You Can Do for Your 4-Month-Old:

• Hold and talk to your baby; smile and be cheerful while you do.

• Set steady routines for sleeping and feeding.

• Pay close attention to what your baby likes and doesn’t like; you will know how best to meet his needs and what you can do to make your baby happy.

• Copy your baby’s sounds.

• Act excited and smile when your baby makes sounds.

• Have quiet play times when you read or sing to your baby.

• Give age-appropriate toys to play with, such as rattles or colorful pictures.

• Play games such as peek-a-boo.

• Provide safe opportunities for your baby to reach for toys and explore his surroundings.

• Put toys near your baby so that she can reach for them or kick her feet.

• Put toys or rattles in your baby’s hand and help him to hold them.

• Hold your baby upright with feet on the floor, and sing or talk