4 Months
Below is a list of developmental milestones that children typically reach at the end of 4 months of age. Review them with your child’s healthcare professional and talk about what to expect next.
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 hand to mouth
- When lying on stomach, pushes up with elbows
COGNITIVE (LEARNING, THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING)
- Lets you know if they are 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
- Follow moving things with eyes from side to side
- Watches faces closely
- Recognizes familiar people nd things at a distance
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL
- Smiles spontaneously, particularly at people
- Likes to play with people abd nugt cry when paying 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 which show hunger, pain, and fatigue
What You Can Do With Your 4-Month-Old
You can help your baby learn and grow. Talk, read, sing, and play together every day. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 4-month-old baby today.
Ask For Help if Your Child...
- Doesn’t watch things as they move
- Doesn’t smile at people
- Can’t hold head steady
- Doesn’t coo or make sounds
- Doesn’t bring things to mouth
- Doesn’t push down with legs when feet are placed on a hard surface
- Has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions
Tell your healthcare provider if you notice any of these signs of possible developmental delay for this age. You can also talk with someone in your community who is familiar with services for young children in your area. Try the FCWN Navigator by emailing fcwnnavigator@ahs.ca or calling 403-995-2706.
