Child development at 4 months: new skills, new emotions

Child development at 4 months

[1] The World Health Organization recommends feeding a child only breast milk for at least 6 months to prevent the development of childhood obesity.

What should a 4 month old baby be able to do?

Each baby develops individually, however, there are some standards that indicate what a child who is 4 months old should be able to do:

• At 16 weeks, the grasping reflex becomes dull. All subsequent attempts to grab the object occur consciously. This means that until 4 months the baby grabbed objects unconsciously, and now he only squeezes things that interest him in his hand.
• Interest in objects is growing. Holding a toy in his hand, the child does not just squeeze it, he tries to look at it, focus, and study it in detail.
• The ability to control the body improves. The baby actively rolls over onto his stomach and back. Spatial awareness and muscle strength improve with this new movement. Take care of the safety of the baby, organize the space in the house so that he can explore the world around him - make sure that the child does not have direct access to open electrical outlets and wires, it is advisable to remove bowls with food for pets away, install protective corners on cabinets to limit a curious child’s access to the contents, and keep sharp and cutting objects away. If for some reason parents do not have the opportunity to organize the safest possible space in the house, as an alternative, you can purchase a playpen.
• There are attempts to sit. You can observe how the child makes attempts to rise, as if trying to sit down. Modern pediatricians draw the attention of parents that they should not help the baby sit down; he must do this on his own.
• •The first attempts to crawl are observed. If the baby is lying on his stomach, you can notice how he tries to push off with his legs in an attempt to crawl away. There is progress in the auditory and visual systems. At 16-17 weeks, vision improves, now the baby sees objects at a distance of three meters. The perception of sounds improves, the baby begins to understand their diversity, listens, and tries to imitate.
• The speech apparatus is developing. The child begins to pronounce syllables that resemble short words and tries to copy the conversation of adults. His sociality increases - when communicating, the baby uses facial expressions, you can hear a kind of babble.

In some children, teething begins in the fourth month, which is manifested by increased secretion of saliva. However, the first teeth can not be seen until 24 weeks. A four-month-old baby's belly begins to increase in size. Therefore, he can be breastfed less often. For many, feeding frequency is reduced to four to five times a day. Now the baby is becoming more and more interested in the environment and is often distracted during feeding.

Skills and abilities of a child at 4 months

Four months is an important period in sensory development. The child gradually stops squinting and looking a little cross-eyed. Instead, the baby purposefully directs his gaze to faces and objects of interest. If he finally has the desired item in his hand, he will examine it and then put it in his mouth. At this age, babies play with their feet, hands and have fun, already requiring constant attention from their parents.

Baby skills at 4 months:

• reacts emotionally to events and communication with him;
• begins to distinguish parents from strangers;
• the child’s activity in communication increases, he rejoices at the sight of other children;
• concentration of attention increases, interest in looking at bright objects appears;
• may show feelings such as surprise, disappointment, curiosity;
• actively explores the world through tactile sensations. Any objects that fall into the child’s hands are tested for taste and hardness. It is important to ensure that all toys are as clean as possible; it is recommended to wash them with soap and water several times a day.

Child growth at 4 months

Child growth at 4 months according to pediatrician statistics:

• Boys: 58.6 cm to 64.6 cm
• Girls: from 58.3 cm to 64.1 cm

The head circumference in boys at 16 weeks increases to 41-43 cm, in girls - 39-42 cm. [2]

Child growth at 4 months according to WHO statistics:

• Boys: 59.8 cm to 68.1 cm
• Girls: from 57.6 cm to 66.3 cm

Head circumference for boys is 39-44 cm, for girls - 38-43 cm.

How much should a baby weigh at 4 months?

Baby weight at 4 months according to pediatricians:

• Boys: from 5.4 kg to 7.7 kg
• Girls: from 5.3 kg to 7.1 kg

Weight at 4 months according to WHO:

• Boys: from 5.5 kg to 8.6 kg
• Girls: from 5.1 kg to 8.1 kg

If the doctor determines a lag in weight gain, which is associated with an insufficient amount of mother's milk, a diagnosis of deterioration in lactation is carried out. If the problem cannot be eliminated, supplementary feeding is prescribed - infant formula, donor milk.

Mental development of a 4 month old child

The mental development of a child at 4 months is characterized by the appearance of a “revival complex” - a violent, emotional reaction to positive communication. The child reacts especially vividly to the appearance of his mother, smiles at her and is able to easily distinguish strangers from the crowd. The hearing system continues to develop, the child recognizes familiar voices and is wary of strangers. May be frightened when approached by a stranger.

According to the results of a study by V. Fthenakis, fathers who communicate more with their sons in the first months of life have a positive impact on the child’s cognitive development.

Other changes in the child’s behavior are also observed:

• turns to look at mom when he hears her voice;
• distinguishes children from adults, can touch a passing child;
• begins to show signs of personality;
• demands attention from parents more persistently;
• pays attention to very small objects;
• recognizes the sound of his own name.

Most children will double their weight and sleep longer by this age. Parents will have a more predictable sleep and feeding schedule for their baby.

Caring for a four month old baby

At the 4th or 5th month, on the recommendation of a pediatrician, a third partial vaccination against rotaviruses and pneumococci is carried out. On the recommendation of a pediatrician, the first meningococcal vaccine may be prescribed.

Important points when caring for a 4 month old baby:

• Because the baby is more upright, he can tolerate feeding without burping.
• During the warm season, the child should be protected from insect bites. Most insect repellents are safe to use from two months of age onwards. But it is recommended to resort to natural remedies. These can be essential oils of clove, eucalyptus, mint added to baby cream.
• Hygiene remains an important issue. As in the second and third months, full bathing should be no more than twice a week. Baby's skin is still sensitive, and frequent bathing can lower the pH level, which often causes increased dryness.

At 4 months, parents may encounter the concept of sleep regression. Regression is the result of a “growth spurt” in the child’s brain and body and is temporary. Therefore, to cope with this phenomenon, you should adhere to the same sleep schedule.

This month your child will have a scheduled fourth visit to the pediatrician, which includes:

• a complete physical examination with special attention to the hip joints;
• study of child growth and development;
• review of feeding and sleep schedules;
• measurement of height, weight and head circumference.

The next check with the pediatrician will take place at the age of 6 months.

Common health problems at this age may include colds, intestinal colic, and stomatitis.

At 4 months the child becomes sociable and purposeful.
Children at this age love to babble, scream, and imitate the sounds they hear. They love to play and copy the movements of others. Each child is different and may meet developmental milestones a little earlier or later than their peers. Don't be afraid of this, continue to play with him, communicate and pay attention. [3] You might be interested in reading this article about baby development at 5 months. [1] WHO feeding recommendations: https://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/ru/ [2] WHO feeding recommendations: https://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/ru/ [3] ] John Gottman: Child Emotional Intelligence; Sergey Maksimovich: A complete course in children's health

Physical skills

The child becomes much stronger than before, and his movements become quite conscious. Some children at this age even try to sit on their buttocks, but in no case should you artificially sit the child up, resting him on pillows, since such impatience of parents can lead to injury to the baby’s fragile spine.

What should a 4 month old baby be able to do:

• Roll over from your back to your stomach and then back;
• Try to pull yourself up while holding onto the bar or an adult’s hand;
• When feeding, hold the mother's bottle or breast with your hands;
• Lying on your stomach, raise your buttocks and try to push your legs off the surface;
• Consciously take the toy and hold it in your hand for a while;
• While lying on your back, raise your head along with your shoulder body;
• Hold your head well;
• Raise your body, resting on your palms;

Photo session with a newborn - remember safety

It is very important that during the filming process the baby feels as comfortable as possible. First of all, he should be warm. The optimal air temperature in the room is 23-25°C. It is better to start a photo session after feeding, when the baby is full, calm and ready to fall asleep.

Do not use the flash when your baby is awake! A newborn does not have a reflex of rapid contraction of the pupils from bright light. Even the built-in flash will negatively affect the retina of his eyes.

It is best to shoot near the largest window in the room. If there are few sunny days in your city, then for good lighting, you will need a softbox. You can make it yourself or purchase a budget option on Aliexpress.

Don't repeat difficult poses that you might see in photos taken by professionals. As a rule, such a frame is the result of combining several photographs, during which the baby is insured by an assistant. Therefore, it is better not to take risks and just capture your baby’s natural poses. However, even using them, pictures can be diversified.

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Classes

At 4 months, contact with mother remains of primary importance for the child . Although the baby is not yet able to control his body and speak, tactile sensations and oral communication, conversations with loved ones play a huge role in his development.

Educational games for a four-month-old baby should be dedicated to:

• Development of tactile sensations.
• Development of coordination.
• Sound training.

The massage is carried out in a playful way, combined with rhymes and nursery rhymes. A toy that needs to be brought to the baby and waited until he reaches it will help develop coordination.

Learning sounds can be successfully accomplished by playing “repeat”, which consists of asking the baby questions until he responds with a sound, which the adult must immediately repeat.

It is important to stimulate the child’s interest in the world around him and encourage him to reach for objects that interest him.

The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky and the developmental features of a premature baby

When researching the issue of child development at 4 months of age, it would not hurt to use the recommendations of an authoritative specialist. And among all the abundance of high-quality pediatricians, one cannot ignore the people's favorite Evgeniy Komarovsky, who broadcasts daily from blue screens, educating new parents.

Returning to the question, the main thing should be highlighted - Evgeniy Olegovich calls not to try to sit a child at 4 months, trying to maintain a diagonal position of his body relative to the horizontal surface. In addition, the doctor insists on separate sleep with the baby and only one night feeding.

There is no need to sound the alarm if a girl born prematurely lags far behind her peers in a number of indicators, because this is not a sign of pathology. Moreover, for premature babies, a completely different system of reference is relevant, which begins not from the moment of birth, but from the conventionally set due date.

And if we don’t talk about babies with a high degree of prematurity, then usually by the fourth month of life they just begin to hold their head, which is considered the absolute norm.