Your baby's developmental milestones at 4 months
Everything you need to know about your growing 4-month-old
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Your little one is growing more social and moving more purposefully. Babies at this age love to babble, coo, play and mimic the sounds they hear and movements they see. You’ll start to notice that her/his cries will start to sound different as she/he learns to communicate hunger, frustration, discomfort and sleepiness. Read on to find out more about some of the ways your 4-month-old is learning and changing at this stage.
Social and emotional milestones at 4 months
Some of the ways you’ll see your little one learning to connect with the people around her at 4 months:
- Will smile spontaneously.
- Will try copying your movements and facial expressions.
- Likes to play with others and may get upset when playtime stops.
Tips for parents
- Share your little one’s interest by looking and pointing.
- Try smiling at your baby and speaking to her in a kind voice.
Language and communication milestones at 4 months
How your baby is expressing his needs:
- His cries will start to sound different if he is hungry, in pain or tired.
- He will babble and copy sounds he hears.
Tips for parents
- When your baby cries, respond as soon as possible, noting the meanings of each cry-signal.
- Repeat sounds your baby makes back to him.
Brain development milestones at 4 months
Your child’s brain is growing!
- Will begin to recognize objects and people she is familiar with from a distance.
- Is responsive to love and affection.
- Will track moving objects with her eyes by following them side to side.
- Her hands and eyes will work together.
- She will let you know if she’s happy or sad.
- Watches faces closely.
- Will reach for toys with one hand.
Tips for parents
- Help her develop her hand-eye coordination by leaving toys nearby.
- Speak to your baby during your everyday routines and talk to her about what you notice.
Movement and physical development milestones at 4 months
How he’ll move through his environment.
- Brings his hands to his mouth.
- Will push up to his elbows when lying on his stomach.
- He can hold his head up without support.
- Might be able to roll over onto his back.
- He will push down on his legs when his feet are on a hard surface.
- Can shake a toy he’s holding.
Tips for parents
- Leave rattles near your little one so he can reach for and shake them.
- Encourage your baby to roll over by putting him on a hard surface -soft surfaces will be difficult at this stage.
Food and nutrition milestones at 4 months
What mealtimes look like at 4 months.
- Your baby will begin to signal that he is hungry by putting his hands near his mouth.
Tips for parents
- When he signals that he is hungry, respond by giving him breastmilk.
Things to look out for
While all babies develop differently, you should speak to your paediatrician if your 4-month-old:
- Has difficulty moving one or both of his eyes in any direction.
- Won’t smile at people.
- Doesn’t bring his hands to his mouth.
- Won’t push down with his legs when he’s put on a hard surface.
- Doesn’t make noises or cooing sounds.
- Can't hold his head up steadily.