Your Baby Is Four Months Old
When your baby reaches the age of four months, things will really start to happen fast. She is growing and learning about her world. She is interested in everything she sees or hears. She is reaching for things and putting them in her mouth. This is how she learns about them.
When she is feeding, she stops and plays with your clothes, or she looks at other people in the room.
She may try to roll over. The more she tries, the better she can do it.
She smiles when she sees her parents and other people who care for her. She may frown when she sees strangers. She babbles. She tries to imitate your words as she makes sounds.
She may start sleeping at night for longer and longer periods of time. She will love it when you sit on the floor and play with her. You can have a lot of fun with your baby at this age.
The more you help her explore, the more she will reward you with smiles, happy sounds and love. You can help her by playing with her, singing to her and talking to her. Enjoy your baby as she grows and develops!
What's It Like To Be Four Months Old?
How I grow
- When I lie on my tummy, I may roll from side to side. I may even roll over onto my back.
- I may be able to sit with support.
- I can hold my head up on my own. I can turn my head from side to side.
- I use both hands to grab toys and other objects.
- When I'm in the bathtub, I like to splash in the water. I always need to be held firmly so I don't slide into the water.
How I understand
- I may get excited when I see people I know. Sometimes I don't like strangers.
- I like some toys better than others.
How I talk
- When you talk to me, I smile and squeal and coo.
- I like to imitate sounds. I like for you to talk to me and make sounds to me.
- I babble now. I make lots of different sounds.
- When I am happy, I coo, squeal, gurgle, giggle, grin and laugh out loud.
How I respond
- I like to look at myself in the mirror. Sometimes I smile at myself.
- I like to be touched and held.
- I may fuss if I am left alone. I get bored.
- I may cry when you take a toy away from me. I may cry when you stop playing with me.
Guiding Principles To Help Your Baby Every Day
Here are some important things you can do that will help your baby every day:
- Be your baby's teacher. Babies learn when they have many good experiences with someone who loves them. Give your baby a rattle. Say, "Shake, shake," as you move it and make sounds together. Name things for your baby. For example, say, "Look at the tree. Let's sit under the tree." This helps your baby develop language.
- Encourage your baby to explore. Your baby is at an age when she likes to be held up to look at things. Looking at things is important for her. Look at something together, and move it around. Your baby now is holding on to things and putting them into her mouth. This helps her explore. It also helps her develop movement skills. Find things she can play with like unbreakable spoons or plastic cups, and get down on the floor and play with her.
- Get excited about your child. Show your excitement when she does something. Make sure you act immediately. Your baby will connect your pleasure with what she has just done. For example, when your baby sits up as you hold her, say, "Look at you! You are sitting up!"
- Repeat things with your baby. Babies learn by doing the same thing over and over. Your baby may learn faster when she has lots of time playing and talking with you.
- Communicate. Talk and sing to your baby. She has been learning about language since birth. Talking to her helps her to learn.
- Do not treat your baby harshly.
- Babies do not know right from wrong.
- They should not be punished.
- They should not be teased in a rough manner.
- Never shake or hit your baby. Never allow anyone else to shake or hit your baby. This can cause injuries, brain damage or even death.
For more information about dads and their baby's first year, get The Everything® Father's First Year Book by Vincent Iannelli, MD, which is published by Adams Media and is now available at your favorite bookstore.
You can also order The Everything® Father's First Year Book right now from amazon.com.