Physical improve
Your 4-month-old baby will start to roll over. When lying on her stomach, she can keep her head straight, hold her head high, and lift her chest off the floor or mattress. Baby can also hold toys and reach for things. Your baby may start teething, and will drool and gnaw a few months before the first tooth emerges.
Emotional development
At around 4 months of age, babies can recognize their parents and learn to comfort themselves so that interacting with your children could help them a lot in improving their emotional intelligence.
Social Development
Babies can smile to communicate and sometimes burst out laughing.
Intellectual development
4-month-old babies begin to recognize their surroundings.
Test
Your baby may be tested for anemia, if risk factors are present.
Nutrition and dental care
- Your 4-month-old baby should continue to be breastfed or receive iron-fortified infant formula as the primary source of nutrition.
- Most 4-month-old babies feed 4-5 hours a day.
- Babies who use less than 480ml of formula per day need to be fortified with vitamin D. Fruit juice should not be given to babies under 6 months of age.
- Babies get enough water from breast milk or formula, so no extra water is needed. In general, babies usually get enough nutrition from breast milk or formula and don’t need solid foods until 6 months old.
- When ready to eat solids, your baby should be able to sit on her own with little help, have good head control, be able to turn her face away when she’s full, and be able to trick small amounts of pureed food from front to back. mouth without spitting it out.
- If your doctor recommends that your baby try foods before the six-month check-up, you can buy baby foods or grind your own meats, vegetables, and fruits.
- Iron-fortified cereals can be given to your baby once or twice a day.
- The amount of solid food for babies is about 1/2 to 1 tablespoon. When feeding your baby for the first time, he may only be able to eat a full scoop or two.
- Introduce your baby to just one new food at a time. Using foods with only one ingredient can help determine if your baby has an allergic reaction to any food.
- Brush your baby’s teeth after meals and before bedtime. If using toothpaste, do not use fluorine.
- Fluoride supplements can be continued if recommended by your doctor.
Develop
- Read books to your baby every day. Allow your baby to touch, talk to, and point to objects. Choose books with lots of interesting drawings, colors, and materials.
- Read rhyming poems and sing along with your baby. Avoid baby talk.
Sleep
- Put your baby to sleep on his back to reduce the risk of SIDS, also known as sudden infant death syndrome. Do not put your baby in a bed with pillows, fluffy blankets, or stuffed animals.
- Have your baby nap and sleep at the same time every night. Put your baby to sleep when he is drowsy, but not completely asleep yet.
- Encourage your baby to sleep in a crib or separate sleeping area.
Advice for parents
- Children at this age are too young to be spoiled. Your baby will depend on regular holding, cuddling, and interactive communication to develop social skills and emotional attachment to parents and caregivers.
- Put your baby on his stomach a few times a day to prevent dents on the back of his head from lying on his back, and keep an eye on it. This also helps in muscle development in the baby.
- Give your child over-the-counter medications for pain, discomfort, or fever only as directed by a doctor.
- Call the doctor if your baby shows any signs of being sick or has a fever above 100.4°F (38°C). Check temperature rectally if baby is sick or hot. Do not use an ear thermometer until your baby is 6 months old.
Safe
- Make sure your home is a safe environment for your baby. Between the indoor water heater temperature at 120°F (49°C).
- Avoid dangling power cords, shutters or telephone cords. Try crawling around the house and looking for dangerous objects within your baby’s sight.
- Create a tobacco-free or drug-free environment for your baby.
- Use a gate at the top of the stairs to prevent falls. Use a bolted barrier around the pool.
- Do not use a walker that can expose your baby to unsafe hazards and possible falls. A walker does not help your baby learn to walk any earlier and may affect the motor skills needed for walking. A recliner/vibrating chair can be used for short periods of time.
- Always place your baby in a child-safe, child-safe seat in the middle of the rear-facing, rear-facing car seat until he or she is at least one year old and weighs at least 20 lbs/9.1 kg.
- Never place a baby seat in the front seat in a car with an airbag.
- Equip smoke detectors in your home and change batteries regularly.
- Keep medicines and poisons tightly closed and out of reach. Keep all chemicals and cleaning products out of your baby’s reach.
- If there is a firearm in the house, both the gun and ammunition must be securely locked and stored separately, not together.
- Be careful with hot liquids. Knives, heavy objects and cleaning items must be kept out of reach of children.
- Always watch your child, even in the shower. Don’t expect the older kids to look after the baby.
- Always use a sunscreen that protects your baby from UV-A and UV-B rays and has a protection factor of at least 15 (SPF-15) or high when out in the sun to minimize the chance of sunburn. That can lead to more serious skin problems later on. Avoid being outdoors during peak sunlight hours.
- Know the phone number of the local poison control agency and keep them next to the phone or on the refrigerator.
