Your baby, 4 months 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 and older

At this point, your baby can recognize familiar faces. He can distinguish his mom from his dad and knows who they are. Many babies have favorite toys and you may have found a book or song that your baby seems to like the best. By now, he probably likes to play with toys on a mat or blanket on the foor. Exersaucers are good choices for baby to play in. Steer clear of baby walkers. They are dangerous and should not be used.

It is important to respond quickly and calmly to your crying baby. When you respond quickly, your baby will develop a sense of security and develop trust in you. You will have to do less to soothe a distressed baby if you respond quickly. Many people are under the impression that they will spoil their baby if they respond to every whimper and whine. This is not true. You can spoil a child, but not a baby. A baby of this age can not be disciplined and is not able to understand your commands. Continue to be loving and gentle to foster a good relationship.

Your baby can most likely roll from side to side and possibly from her tummy to her back. Be careful not to leave her unattended-she may roll off and get seriously injured. Babies should be placed on their tummies to develop strength and muscles needed for sitting, crawling and walking. Encourage your baby to roll over and help her sit up with support. It is much more interesting to sit up and look at things vs. laying down and staring at the ceiling. At this age, your baby is probably grasping objects and putting them straight into his mouth. Make sure all of his toys are safe and clean.

Your baby may begin to get upset if you take a toy away or stop playing with her. She coos, babbles, smiles and laughs when you interact with her. She may be able to click her tongue and cough by now. Playing with your baby is important for development. Continue to read, sing, play and play games with your little learner. Talk to your baby in regular words-do not use baby talk because it does not sound clear to your baby and may confuse him. Praise your baby for jobs well done! Introduce your baby to new sights, smells, sounds and textures often. This is how he will learn the most about this new exciting world around him!

Around four months of age, your doctor may give the go ahead on solid foods. You will know if your baby is ready. He should sit well with support and be able to hold his head steady. If she is still pushing the food out of her mouth with her tongue, she may not be quite ready to start solids. Start with cereal and then try fruits and vegetables. When using a highchair, make sure that it is safe. Your high chair should not have any broken pieces and should be sturdy. Always use the seat belt and lock the tray on snuggly. Make sure you watch your baby closely while he is in the highchair. Do not feed your baby directly from the jar, unless you are certain he will eat all of it. Just because your baby is consuming solids does not mean she doesn't still need formula or breatmilk-she does!!

Developmental Milestones 4 Months Old

Physical

• Your baby's stomach has grown larger, so he does not need to feed as often
• Rolls over
• When laid on stomach, your baby will lift his stomach and shoulders high offf the ground
• Your baby's tongue-thrust reflex is fading, and your baby may be ready to start solid foods now
• Can reach out and grab objects-he still may miss his mark on the first try
• You will notice alot of drool-some babies start teething around this time

Intellectual

• Feedings can get difficult as your baby likes to see what is going on at mealtime
• Your baby is easily distractable
• Once the baby grasps ahold of an object, he will put it straight to his mouth
• Your baby likes a vairety of toys and objects-give her different toys with different responses
• Babies begin to understand cause and effect
• Begins to understand all basic sounds of language
• Begins to develop the ability to make vocal sounds-`ma-ma` `da-da`-although he does not connect sound to parent
• Color differences are clearer and your baby probably prefers bright primary colors
• Can laugh out loud and squeal in delight

Emotional

• Likes to be interacted with-play with your baby as often as possible
• Some babies like to play alone at this time
• May participate in back and forth imitation games-imitate your child's faces and sounds
• Your baby will respond to your voice and gestures by kicking legs or waving arms
• Baby will show you when she is no longer interested

Age Appropriate Toys

• Bright colored books
• Posters
• Activity gyms and play mats
• Musical toys
• Lighted toys
• Mirrors
• Teething rings
• Plastic toys to chew on
• Toys to grasp
• Brightly colored soft blocks
• Stuffed toys

Comments:

Comments 26-50 of about 13386 for month 4
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next

TutuGirl - Wednesday, 11 Nov
LOOKiNG FOR A TuTu FOR YOUR LiTTLE PRiNCESS? Visit My friends Shop.. PatsyBranch.Etsy.com SAME QUALiTY, LOWER HOLiDAY PRiCES!

MieKitty - Wednesday, 11 Nov
Excited4june, back labor is when the baby is facing the wrong way (face up) and when s/he decends with the contractions the back of his/her head collides with your tailbone. Very painful!!! And to push the baby out usually you have to keep pushing until the baby is facing down (but I've heard of babys coming out sideways and face up!!!! Ouch)

monselena - Wednesday, 11 Nov
Can all you ladies with a myspace account please do me a HUGE favor add simply divine photography to your friends list and then vote for my photo its a school with snow and it says monselena under the caption, I really want to win the $100 free print credit this girl takes awsome pics, but its a little expensaive so Please help me so I can get awsome pics of my little one Thanks in advance www.myspace.com/simplydivinephotography And you can delete her again after you vote please I'am begging for votes

ivy-62209 - Wednesday, 11 Nov
phatbaby57 - try warming the mattress with a heating pad before you put him down, just be sure not to leave it in there with him. I haven't tried this myself as mine died, but I've heard it can work. Its the transitioning from being held by a warm body to a cold mattress that can wake them sometimes.

phatbaby57 - Wednesday, 11 Nov
Well yesterday was beginner's luck I think. We did not do so good last night in the crib. I'd have him asleep...mouth dropped open, limb loose asleep and the second his little body touched the mattress it was all over. An hour and a half of this before he finally went down for 30 minutes. Then he was back up to nurse. I was so exhausted I feel asleep with him latched and didn't wake again until 3:30 when he was hungry again. What a stinker! He tricked us on Monday!

excited4june - Tuesday, 10 Nov
My back hurt all pregnancy but I don't think I had back labor but I really don't know what that is. I had an epi and have had no back problems since I had my lo.

oliversmama - Tuesday, 10 Nov
Thanks, ivy. I'll have to try those tablets. He did poop twice this morning and one of them was kind of hard, so maybe that was part of the reason last night. He has been all smiles all day today with a couple occasional fusses, but nothing extreme.

druash - Tuesday, 10 Nov
my LO is sleeping in the play pen until 2 i know that doesnt seem like a lot but definately is when he has been sleeping with me :)

ivy-62209 - Tuesday, 10 Nov
oliversmama - it does sound like teething. Have you tried the teething tablets yet? They have some homeopathic ones at the drug store, think they're the Highlands brand. That may help. Sophie hasn't cut any teeth yet, just lots of drooling and hand sucking so far.

MieKitty - Tuesday, 10 Nov
I had back labor as well and had to get the epi. I have back pain everyday.... wow I didn't know I could get it corrected!!

glowingmommy2be - Tuesday, 10 Nov
misca- I have that pain too. I had the back labor also and got an epi. They thought that Hunter might have broken my tailbone, but I guess he just severally bruised it and it also led to a pinched nerve. I have just visited my chiropractor to get readjusted to take the pressure off and with a few visits, it should all be fixed it that's the case for you.

phatbaby57 - Tuesday, 10 Nov
My lo sleep in his crib until 2:15 this morning!! I know that doesn't sound like much, but it was pure, delicious heaven for me!

misca - Monday, 9 Nov
Maybe someone can help me out here. I have had episodes of extreme back pain since giving birth. I did receive an epidural, but I also had back labor for 3 straight days. It does not hurt exactly where the epidural went in, but radiates up and to the lower parts of my back too. Also if I get even the slightest gassy, it causes the pain to flare up. Does anyone have any ideas or knows anything about this. Ive heard horror stories about women having back pain from an epidural for years, but has anyone had pain that had back labor?

junebaby2009 - Monday, 9 Nov
Ivy, that sucks! I hope you start feeling better soon!

oliversmama - Monday, 9 Nov
Anybody's babies have teeth yet? Oliver has his two front bottom teeth and I think his top are coming down now. He has been fine for the most part, laughing and smiling, but sometimes he gets into these screaming fits out of nowhere and it is so hard to calm him down. It usually turns into a short nap which he'll grunt and whimper while he is calming and falling asleep while I'm cuddling him and rocking him. I am wondering if this is because of teething and if any of you have experienced anything like this. I hate when it happens and sometimes cry with him because I hate to see him so upset and I can't do anything to help. I just went through this a little bit ago and I gave him some infant tylenol and gave him a cool teether to chew on. He has calmed down now and is seeming ok right now.

ivy-62209 - Monday, 9 Nov
junebaby2009 - thanks for the tips. I'm actually catching every bug that passes by. I've actually had the flu 2x already, once caught from a coworker and once from my mom. And now I'm feeling like I'm coming down with something yet again (just got over the stomach flu last week). I think I'm run down b/c of breastfeeding, and then add to that not getting enough sleep.

junebaby2009 - Monday, 9 Nov
squeeling, growling, screeching, don't know I think it's a combo of all three...so funny, I don't know if I should pick him up, if he's playing, or in discomfort. It is pretty cute! I think he likes to listen to his voice and the louder the better!

junebaby2009 - Monday, 9 Nov
AF just visted for the first time last week. I had stopped BF four-5 weeks prior. Ivy if you are not feeling well maybe a prego test wouldn't be a bad idea, at least something to rule out! There is a lot of icky stuff going on all over the place. Also I don't know exactly what is plauging you but I have been dealing with postpartom thyroid stuff, first I was hyper and now because of the meds I am now hypo! Your thyroid can cause you to be all kinds of sick but for sure a general feeling of unwell. I remember I took a prego test cause I felt so icky and it turned out it was indeed my thyroid. If also wouldn't hurt to get your blood drawn and get your levels checked.

jnj1stbaby - Monday, 9 Nov
phatbaby57-Thanks for responding. It looks like I will have to look hard to find a very particular family to make this work for me...we'll see.

ivy-62209 - Monday, 9 Nov
I can't even put Sophie down now w/o her immediately rolling over (she's also now 5mos). Then when she does, its like she realizes she's now on her tummy which she dislikes so she she usually starts screeching. Can't even call it squealing, its loud, obnoxious, ear-piercing screeching. Sometimes she'll keep rolling and make her way across the room, and sometimes she'll lift all limbs and do the 'swim'. However, she cannot sit up and shows little interest in trying, unless she's in her car seat. Then she'll lean forward a bit so she can see. If I try to sit her on her own she just collapses forward to to the side. And she still shows almost no interest in toys.

ivy-62209 - Monday, 9 Nov
I'm still EBF (well, she gets maybe 1-2oz of formula a week to supplement when I can't pump enough) and I haven't got AF back yet either. I'm thinking about getting a pg test, though I have no symptoms of being pregnant.

glowingmommy2be - Monday, 9 Nov
has anyone else NOT gotten their AF back yet? I nursed Hunter until about a month ago and then just once or twice during the night after that and then last wednesday he completely rejects me so now he's only on formula. I'm just shocked I haven't started yet and was wondering if anyone else is the same, or (oh crap) should I go take a pg test?

glowingmommy2be - Monday, 9 Nov
mine is a squealer too! He just loves to make noise, my P.A.T. instructor said that it's his way of discovering toys and other people and to learn how his environment works. He's been semi-waking at 6 or 6:30 just SHOUTING! but it's just really loud talking and babbling and squeling. It's pretty cute because I thought he was going to start crying, but I got up to check on him and his eyes are closed the whole time, it's like he is sleep talking :) Then when he finally does wake up he just looks everywhere and talks some then too.

petskies - Sunday, 8 Nov
Hey everybody I need your help if you have a face book account please join my group..Peta's Weight loss Challenge SIck of being Fat http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=167762577113&v=app_2373072738#/group.php?gid=167762577113&v=wall I really need as much support as I can get to lose the rest of the baby weight I have to lose and the more people that join the more pressure I have to lose it your support would mean the world to me because I so want to be healthy and fit for my little girl

ennazus - Sunday, 8 Nov
Mine is a pincher/scratcher puncher when she is tired. Very annoying! She has also learned to squeal. Did it several times in church this morning as a matter of fact.

More comments: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next Latest comments from all months More months: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 and older