What should a child do at four months? Child development in the fourth month of life. Are there developmental differences between children of different sexes?

A baby who has outgrown the 3-month mark is significantly different from its former self. Such a baby not only confidently holds his head and turns his neck, but also, lying on his stomach, keeps his shoulder girdle raised for a long time (cobra goat). He reacts to all sounds and perfectly distinguishes the facial expressions of adults. When crying, you probably notice that its intonations vary greatly: from offended-sad to fervently-scandalous. But the main thing is that the baby communicates with the outside world not only by crying. From 4 months, most children develop so-called infant speech - cooing. It can be cheerful, enthusiastic, very meaningful, and, of course, endlessly touching for mom. Have “dialogues” with your child more often - it will benefit him, and it will be a tremendous pleasure for you.

At this age, the baby's favorite toy is himself. The baby examines his fingers with interest and tries to synchronize their movements. However, other age-appropriate toys will also be very useful, but we’ll talk about that a little later.

In the fourth month Throughout the life of the baby, his weight gain should be about 20 g per day. In other words, the average weight gain by the end of the fourth month should be 650 - 750 g per month. As for height, during this period the increase is usually 2 - 2.5 cm. The head circumference at 4 months in boys is about 42 cm, chest - 42.9 cm, in girls - 41 cm, chest - 41.9 cm.

But, as you understand, these standards are very approximate and serve as a guide. If your baby gains a little less or a little more, don’t worry. The main thing is the presence of persistent dynamics towards weight gain. But numbers are a relative thing, because children grow in leaps and bounds. And if the baby “didn’t catch up” this month, he will “catch up” next month, and vice versa.

Physical development of children 4 months

Inspired by their children's successes and under the influence of their grandmother's advice, some mothers at this age try to artificially place the baby (either in a high chair, in pillows, or using other supports). Don't repeat their mistakes: you can't do this! Pediatric orthopedists categorically prohibit sitting a child until he does it on his own! Also, sitting down should not be stimulated in any way - the baby will sit down only when he instinctively feels that he is ready for this (which means that the necessary bones and muscles have matured). By dropping your child off until then, you cause irreversible harm to his musculoskeletal system.

The same applies to kangaroo backpacks. No matter what is indicated on the label (and sometimes there is even a “0+” mark), the child cannot be placed in such a device until he learns to sit himself (and this, as a rule, happens by 6 months) . Until then, to carry the baby, use slings in which the baby reclines in a physiological position.

And to choose the most convenient sling for both of you, read our review: " "

If a child at 4 months tries to sit up on his own

Once again I would like to emphasize: under no circumstances should you “help” the baby by disembarking. Even if, day after day, you observe a toddler’s painful attempts to sit down on his own (it’s rare, but it happens that children begin to sit up at such an early age), do not in any way help or pedal this process. The child will be able to sit down then and only when his bones, joints, muscles and tendons are ready for this. If the baby managed to sit up on his own, great, congratulations to him and you, but if he can’t do it yet, don’t help, it means the time has not come yet. Let the baby get a little stronger, and daily, albeit still unsuccessful, attempts to sit down are the best training for him now.

And you shouldn’t take to heart the stories of neighbors that supposedly someone’s child is crawling at 4 months, or even walking. Not every baby at this age is able to roll over on his own, and this is also the norm!

Child 4 months old: hip dysplasia needs to be ruled out

As soon as the child reaches the age of a full 3 months, he must be shown to a pediatric orthopedist. Because it is during this period that a serious and dangerous, so far completely invisible, disease can be detected -. At the age of 3 - 7 months, it can be treated quite easily, while at an older age, treatment causes suffering to the child and inhibits his physical development. If the disease is left untreated in childhood, a person may face disability in adulthood.

The trouble is that it is impossible to determine hip dysplasia with the naked eye, so absolutely everyone needs to be examined by an orthopedist, as well as ultrasound diagnostics (sometimes the presence or absence of a diagnosis can only be confirmed by an x-ray). More often, this defect is observed in girls; the following signs can alert the mother: asymmetry of the inguinal folds, uneven abduction of the legs bent at the knees when the child lies on his back, clicks during abduction. But all these are just folk signs; a child (including one that appears to be absolutely healthy) must be examined by a specialist.

Baby's daily routine at 4 months

Many new opportunities appear in the baby’s life; he already needs more time for games and communication. Therefore, he will sleep less and less, and he will begin to use the free time wisely. We invite you to join.

How long does a 4 month old baby sleep?

A child's daily sleep norm is 15 - 18 hours. Of these, the bulk, of course, occurs at night. That is, continuously (waking up only for feedings) the child should sleep at night for about 12 hours. The rest of the time is divided into equal intervals during the day at the “discretion” of the baby - 2 or 3 daytime naps, and maybe short periods of sleep after each feeding (usually the child eats about 5 times during the day and 2-3 at night).

In this article we will talk about how to independently assess the development of a child at 4 months. But do not forget that the objectivity of home observations is influenced by the conditions under which they are conducted.

Child development at 4 months. Pronation"

Place your undressed baby on his stomach. For child development at 4 months characterized by confident support on the forearms. Now the angle between the shoulders and forearms should be more than 90°, and the distance between the forearms themselves is increasing compared to 3 months. The four-month-old baby leaves his palms half open and is able to hold his head upright for more than one minute.

Child development at 4 months. Reactions and skills.

Place your thumbs in the hands of the baby lying on his back, clasp his hands with the rest of your fingers and very slowly and carefully pull up to a maximum angle of 45° from the bedding. The development of a child at 4 months allows him, at least at the beginning of movement, to keep his head in line with his body (the head rises with the body). After a few seconds, the head may drop back. At the moment of pulling up, the bent legs also reflexively rise a few centimeters above the litter. The arms can be in a position from slightly extended to slightly bent.

Take the baby under the armpits with both hands, you can face him (it is no longer necessary to support the head with your thumbs), and place him vertically on both feet on a hard, smooth surface.

Be sure not to press with your fingertips, including the tip of your thumb, on various muscle groups in your baby's body. Peculiarity child development at 4 months expressed in bent legs, as if. You may see your baby slightly straightening his knees and ankles and briefly supporting himself on the tips of his toes, but he will still not be able to support his body weight. But at the same time, the child already confidently fixes his head in the middle position, his arms are bent with slightly open palms.

Lay the baby on his back and just watch him from the side for a while. In this case, the development of a child at 4 months is determined by the movements of the hands and the condition of the palms - they should be half-open most of the time. The baby can easily put them one inside the other and “play” like this for at least 3 seconds. In addition, at this age, the baby knows how to bring his hands to his face, he watches them with interest, perceiving them as moving “objects.” Please also note that the handles should touch each other on the midline.

Baby development at 4 months requires testing hand-mouth coordination. Show the baby a wooden ball (28 mm in diameter) lying on his back and place it in his hand. A four-month-old baby brings the ball to his mouth and begins to actively “explore” it with his lips and tongue.

The baby should be able to perform this task with both hands. If something doesn’t work out for him, you can touch the child’s hand to his mouth several times.

Give your child a rattle or a cube (side length 3 cm) in his hand and watch what he (or him) does with it. The development of a child at 4 months already allows him to hold an object, examine it, twist or turn it. If your baby immediately drops the toy, give it to him again.

Child development at 4 months. Speech skills and communication.

Listen to your baby’s “utterances” during waking moments. It is not necessary to be directly next to him, but if such a need arises, you can “push” him to communicate: lean over and speak affectionately. Listen carefully to what sound combinations the baby answers you with. The development of a child at 4 years old is distinguished by the pronunciation of sounds similar to “v”, “f”, “b”, “m”, “s” or the English “th”.

The child is 4 months old. The four-month-old baby has become more active, emotional and mobile. His tactile sensitivity increases, the baby is focused when touched and smiles when tickled. While awake, the baby carefully examines everything around. Let's take a closer look at physical and mental development.

Physical development of a child at 4 months

The baby’s motor activity at this stage is still limited, because he spends most of his time lying on his back. Therefore, the weight gain over the previous four weeks will be relatively large - about 0.7 - 0.8 kg. Over the previous weeks, the baby grows by 2.5 cm - 3 cm, and many clothes become too small for him. The chest circumference and head circumference are almost equal, and by the fifth month the chest will become slightly larger in girth than the head.

Table of indicators of average values ​​of physical development

Important! Although every mother knows that her baby develops at his own individual pace, it is still worth paying attention to the average parameters of most infants of this age. The boundaries of the norms make it possible to identify whether there is a developmental delay, and whether attention should be paid to correcting one or more indicators of physical development (height and weight are the most important for assessing).

Basic baby skills at 4 months

Five secrets to good sleep for babies

Closer to six months, babies begin to be more active than before and become overexcited during the day from events and emotions, which often leads to sleep disturbances. Mom has to look for original ways to help her baby when he cannot sleep. Below are some tips to help you get your little one to sleep.

1. Daily walks

Sleep in the fresh air comes to babies very quickly - the slight rocking of the stroller, the noise of the trees, the breeze... And after 10 minutes the baby is already snoring sweetly. As a rule, children sleep longer outside than at home. Before the walk, you can feed your baby. A well-fed toddler falls asleep faster and sleeps better.

2. Active games

Healthy fatigue during the day will contribute to sound and healthy sleep. Play with your daughter or son for about an hour in various fun games - “Magpie - White-sided”, “Horned Goat”, jump together on a fitball. Then gradually reduce the pace of the game to a calm one, and after 20-30 minutes go for a walk. Usually, after active communication, the baby feels drowsy and willingly falls asleep in the stroller.

3. Swimming before bed

It is most difficult to put infants to sleep at night - it is in the evening hours that whims overcome, but the infant does not want to fall asleep. In this case, swimming just before bed in warm water with soothing herbs (lavender, valerian, juniper) will help. The water “envelops” and relaxes the baby, and after bathing he falls soundly asleep.

4. “Simultaneous breathing”

A peaceful mother and her calm heartbeat can calm a wild toddler. Lie down with your baby on the bed or pick him up. Try to breathe in time with your child, adjust to his breathing rhythm. Breathe together for 1-2 minutes, and then try to regulate your breathing, making it the way it is during rest and sleep - calm and deep. After a couple of minutes, the baby will begin to breathe in rhythm with his mother and fall asleep.

5. Emotional state

You definitely need to pay attention to the baby’s behavior and attitude. If the baby begins to be capricious after a long stay, this is the first sign that he is tired and ready to sleep. Conversely, if the baby refuses to sleep, or the period of time that the mother spends putting him to bed is longer than the sleep itself, then the baby needs to be put to bed later.

On a note! It is important to remember that when you are calm, your baby is calm. Young children react very sensitively to changes in their mother’s emotional state. Try to forget about the things you have to do and focus on your beloved child's sleep.

Baby nutrition - what mothers should pay attention to

With mother-supported breastfeeding in the fourth month, the baby continues to receive full breast milk. The number of feedings per day in the on-demand mode can reach up to ten, in the case of the hourly mode - up to 5-6. With good weight gain, taking into account the correct and healthy, full development of the baby, the introduction of complementary foods at this stage is not required. Breast milk, at least until the baby reaches 6 months, will fully satisfy the nutritional needs of his growing body.

Note! The World Health Organization advises breastfeeding mothers to continue breastfeeding throughout the first year of their baby's life.

For bottle-fed babies, the situation is different: by the age of 4 months, their secretion of hydrochloric acid increases, local intestinal immunity is formed and the activity of digestive enzymes increases. By this period, the baby’s body’s needs for proteins, mineral salts and vitamins increase, which cannot be satisfied only with a nutritional formula. Therefore, by 4 - on IV you can gradually adapt to eating food with a denser consistency, i.e. introduce the first complementary foods.

What is the best way to start introducing complementary foods?

For the first portion of complementary foods, 0.5 tsp. Vegetable puree or porridge are suitable. The choice of a specific product to try depends on the baby’s well-being and the characteristics of his fragile body.

A new product should be introduced into the baby’s menu mainly in the first half of the day, so that the baby’s reaction can be monitored until the end of the day. If the attempt is successful, the portion is gradually increased from half a teaspoon to a whole one. In 5–7 days, the portion is brought to the age norm of 50–100 g and replaces one of the previous formula feedings. After 10–14 days, you can try adding the following product as complementary food. As a result, by the end of the month the feeding regimen may look something like this:

Exercises with the baby

Strengthening gymnastics can be done with the baby if his hypertonicity has completely gone away. This usually happens within a period of up to 3.5 – 4 months. Gymnastics includes various bending and extension of body parts, stimulation of crawling and turning over, and placing on a fitball. If your young athlete cannot handle 10 minutes of exercise, gymnastics can be done little by little throughout the day, dividing the sessions into 2-3 minute sections.

The following exercises are especially effective at this age:

1. ball rolling– the baby needs to be placed on his tummy on the fitball, and stand next to him, holding him by the arms. Try to spring the ball slightly and shake it. The little one will have fun, and in the meantime he will use all the muscles of his body;
2. cyclists– we stretch one leg of the baby forward, and at the same moment we bend the second at the knee. Then vice versa. Repeat the exercise 4-6 times. This technique with legs is reminiscent of riding a bicycle. Be sure to accompany the lesson with music, nursery rhymes, and do not forget to monitor the baby’s reaction;
3. hugs– take the baby by the palms and point your right palm to the left side, and your left palm to the other side, as if the baby is hugging himself. Then repeat the hug, only let the other palm now be on top. Repeat several times.

From four months, you can actively teach your baby to do morning exercises in a playful way. To start each day with a good mood and a charge of energy for the baby, the mother and baby can do light gymnastics. This has a beneficial effect on both physical and emotional development, psychologists say. For example, this five-minute exercise with a poem will be an excellent help for the first exercises with a baby:

The mice were doing exercises near the garden bed (we lift the baby’s arms up, then lower them down),

They raised their paws up and saw the cat. (holding by the handles, turning sideways).

Cat, cat, scat, scat! (cross arms in front of chest).

Don't sneak up on us, cat! (circular turns with handles at elbows).

We mice are strong, strong, athletic (strongman pose).

Mice, mice, don't shout, mice, mice, tell me (handles to the sides and towards you),

Tell the kittens how to do exercises for them (handles to the sides and towards you).

One two three four (handles up to the sides, towards you, down),

Paws – higher, then – wider, and now let’s lower them down, and quietly sneak (handles on the sides).

Let's run, let's run, oh, how tired the mice are (legs bent at the knees, bend and unbend in turn).

Thank you, little mice, I’ll tell everything to the kittens.

Massage to improve child health

Massage puts stress on the muscles, so it should be carried out with great caution without a doctor’s prescription, literally with your fingertips. It is best to combine massage movements with gymnastics, but always an hour after the child eats. Mom needs to lubricate her hands with baby cream or peach oil and begin the massage. You always need to massage the baby from top to bottom: neck, back, buttocks, legs, and finally – chest and arms.

• Place the baby on his tummy. Start making stroking movements on the neck and shoulders, using your index fingers for convenience. Massage the area along the vertebrae from head to back 5-7 times.
• The back should be stroked from the buttocks to the shoulders 5-7 times. Try to avoid the spine area during massage. After stroking, you can lightly walk the edges of your palms along the same lines. With a light rubbing motion, stretch the entire back. Then pat lightly, moving from bottom to top. Finish the back massage with gentle stroking.
• The baby's buttocks are massaged in the same way as the back, only kneading is added with the hard side of the bent fingers with a little effort.
• The baby's legs are vigorously stroked with massage movements from the heel to the buttocks. The massage should be done alternately - after finishing kneading one leg, move on to the next.
• The breast is stroked with the movements of the fingertips. The area of ​​the mammary glands remains untouched during the massage. Stroke your baby's belly clockwise around the belly button. Perform the second and third circles with slight pinching, then light stroking again.
• Handles are massaged from palms to shoulders with stroking movements. Then you can lightly pinch and create vibration with your fingertips. At the end - stroking again.

For the full development of the baby, the attention and care of the parents is necessary, and they will also need regular activities with the baby. At the same time, pediatricians recommend focusing on average statistical indicators of what a child should be able to do at 4 months. This way, moms and dads can determine which skills the little one lacks or is not sufficiently developed.

By four months, children experience a significant increase in weight - they gain up to 750 g in 30 days, and their height increases by 2.5 cm, the same as a month ago. In children, at the moment, there is a rare correspondence between the circumferences of the head and chest, after which, by the fifth month, the chest begins to predominate in size.

The body of a four-year-old child continues to grow and adapt to a new life and this is manifested in anatomical and physiological changes:

• a small child can already show his first tears, since his lacrimal glands have formed;
• the baby suffers less and less from colic in the tummy - this indicates that the digestive tract is beginning to function normally;
• the baby's real bulbous hairs and marigolds grow at a rapid pace;
• physically the baby has become stronger, plumper, his muscles and coordination of movements have become stronger, especially with regard to the back muscles - as a result, he is able to confidently roll over, which in the future will help him learn to sit;
• the remaining infant reflexes gradually disappear, including the Moro and crawling reflex, the increased tone remains in the toddler’s legs;
• the child’s vision improves, which perceives primary colors, the eye muscles are strengthened, and for this reason, in many children suffering from mild strabismus at this age, visual function improves;
• in terms of hearing, there are also many interesting changes, children hear well, feel various sound nuances, prefer low tones and a distinct rhythm, not to mention the fact that they perfectly distinguish the voices of adults;

Four-month-old babies love to be held in a column, in their arms, or supported under their arms - this way they can better understand the world by watching people and looking at objects. It’s still too early for children to sit down, so you need to constantly monitor them. Early planting is especially harmful for girls, who may have problems with the reproductive system in the future because of this.

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

It is worth considering in detail what a 4-month-old baby should be able to do, especially since many of his achievements are worthy of admiration, because he is still so small.

Basic skills and abilities:

1. Children have already mastered the ability to hold their heads confidently and for quite a long time, while lying on their stomachs. In addition, they try to stand up, resting their arms and raising their shoulders and chest.
2. Equally important is that many toddlers do this while lying on their back. Essentially, this is how they try to squat by pulling their head and raising their shoulders.
3. If the parents worked with the child before this age, the baby manages to control his hands well - he confidently grabs and holds toys and rattles hanging and lying nearby, he has learned to hold a bottle with formula and hug his mother. The fact that the baby tears and crumples sheets of newspaper and magazine paper and can touch teethers made of different materials with interest can also indicate developed fine motor skills.

Rolls from the tummy to the side and to the back are considered a particularly important achievement; the four-month-old baby is getting better and better at them, and he does it on his own without outside help. This is the most valuable indicator of a child’s maturation, making him less dependent on parental care

Along with this, the baby’s senses and sociality develop:

1. While making various interesting sounds, a four-month-old baby does not yet use his lips and tongue. He just tries more and more new tones, and sometimes he himself is surprised by his abilities, listening to his own humming.
2. There are also noticeable shifts in the development of vision - the child is able to determine the distance to an object, and if it is not far away, reach out to it with his hand, without paying attention to a more distant thing. Children at 4 months already easily recognize members of their family; they are sincerely happy when they approach and can be upset when a person leaves. During this period, children are already keenly interested in moving objects, animals, cars outside the window, sun “bunnies” and the light of a flashlight sliding around the room.
3. Children are actively developing correct auditory perception - they have already begun to distinguish the voices of relatives and determine the tone of spoken words. Kids listen attentively to the noise made by home appliances, the squeak of a kitten, and listen to classical music with pleasure if it sounds quietly.
4. A normal healthy child knows how to smile, enjoy new toys and the arrival of his parents, and show a positive reaction to the pronunciation of his name. While crying when pleasant music is turned on, the child is distracted and his eyes dry out - he is already captivated by the new information and is trying to process it.
5. When recognizing mom or dad, the child’s emotions increase - this is expressed in joyful humming, active wriggling of legs and arms. This behavior is typical for babies in a good mood, and is often associated with preparing for a bath, changing clothes and changing a diaper.

What should a 4 month old baby be able to do? First of all, express your emotions - at this age the baby does this with the help of various actions that are well known to the mother:

• if he is excited or scared, he stops smiling, becomes silent, and may turn away from the stranger and cuddle up to his mother;
• if, due to fatigue or too loud voices, the baby quickly gets tired or is dissatisfied, his normal reaction at this moment may be crying;
• when he has to wait, he may sigh noisily, showing his impatience;
• calms down and stops screaming and crying when she hears her mother’s voice.

But, starting from four months, a baby may well learn to follow a person even after he leaves the room, to show anger when refused communication or games. In some children, such actions may be observed earlier.

It is natural that young fathers and mothers are interested in what a 4-month-old girl and boy need to be able to do.

What a child should be able to do at 4 months: video

Are there developmental differences between children of different sexes?

The skills and development of a child at 4 months may differ when it comes to boys and girls. And it’s not just height and weight, in terms of which boys are still ahead of girls. For now, because this situation lasts up to a year, and then the little representatives of the fair sex begin to lead.

From birth, the work of the brain determines the different mentality of children, and for a girl it is always a focus on survival, while a boy constantly strives to improve. This can explain the differences in the behavior and games of children.

It is not difficult to notice such distinctive features of children if you just watch them:

• it is easier to calm a girl down with melodious singing, a lullaby, and quietly and gently spoken speech;
• at four months they are already able to recognize people even in photographs, while a boy at 4 months cannot do this;
• babies can see equally well with both eyes, while boys can see only with their left eye;
• boys immediately recognize the color blue, and girls - red.

And this is not all that parents can learn about their children:

1. Girls love soft toys, they know how to feel sad, and they feel pain and discomfort faster. Their visual memory, speech, and peripheral vision develop quickly and have good quality. They quickly recognize shades of emotions in people around them.
2. Boys do not react so strongly to sudden loud noise and sound; their type of vision is central, spatial. They love mechanical toys, are more prone to anger, learn to speak later, but begin to get up and walk earlier, and their auditory memory predominates.

As a result, a four-month-old girl spends much more time with her mother, because more than a boy she needs attention, care and love, although all children need this.

It is estimated that in the first months after birth, daughters look at their mother almost twice as much as sons, but this is also due to a certain mentality of children of different sexes.

Education and development

Psychologists and doctors recommend that parents spend more time with their little children, and it’s not even about special exercises and massage - the baby needs to be taught games that will develop him, because he himself does not yet know how to do this. That’s why you need to put toys in his hands, show him pictures, and draw the little one’s attention to interesting events happening around him.

At 4 months, children sleep 15 hours a day, so they have more time for educational games that need to be distributed correctly. You should not demand that your baby perform tasks that are beyond his ability, no matter how much the parents would like to see him be the first in all the necessary skills.

You can help your child develop in the following ways:

• providing him with toys of various textures for touching, bright and colorful - for developing vision and the ability to distinguish colors, musical ones - for improving hearing;
• you can blow soap bubbles so that the baby can follow them with his eyes;
• you can raise and lower the baby’s arms, fold them along the body and on the chest - this improves coordination;
• during a massage or during physical exercise, it is useful to read poems or sing songs to the child;
• When talking to a baby, you should pronounce words correctly and do it with expression, because later the little one will imitate his parents and learn to speak not only quickly, but also competently.

When developing and raising a child, parents must maintain a good mood, and for this they themselves must be positive. You should not allow a child to cry for a long time if something has greatly upset him. This can damage the baby's developing nervous system.

And learning is more likely to bear fruit if the atmosphere of the classes is friendly, and parents accompany their important lessons with a smile and encouraging words. Attentive, wise parents will praise the child just for trying to do something.

How to determine if your baby is behind

If a child does not know how to do what he should be able to do, this can be explained by several reasons - the baby is not yet ready for this, due to the hereditary factor, his parents did not teach him. But sometimes inability also means a deviation in normal development.

This can be determined by several negative signs:

• the child is apathetic, lethargic, he does not have a normal cheerful reaction to his name, he does not recognize his close people;
• he has no reaction to the sounds of voices, to quiet and loud noise;
• the baby practically does not react to pain;
• The baby is of little interest in toys;
• The baby has reflexes that should no longer exist.

But perhaps the most important alarming symptoms are the baby’s inability to hold his head up, roll over, or hold a toy. It is also worth paying attention to the condition of the child, if when pulling the baby by the arms, his head leans back.

Since an increase in motor and cognitive activity is considered absolutely normal at the age of 4 months, a healthy baby should definitely be interested in the people and various objects around him. In general, it is normal for a four-month-old baby to play happily, laugh a lot, mumble and squeak in his own language, expressing many emotions. And if this does not happen, then the parents’ responsibility is to visit the pediatrician and other children’s specialists for the purpose of examination, and, possibly, treatment of the baby.

In order to monitor the development of the baby and help him in all his endeavors, adults need to know what a child should be able to do at 4 months. At the same time, it makes no sense to compare your son or daughter with other children, because each of them goes their own way through life.

In this article we will look at how a child is different at 4 months: development, what he should be able to do, what emotions he is already able to experience. After all, very often, looking at kids, we think: what are they thinking about, how do they see our world?

Greetings, dear readers. In the last article we discussed the topic in detail. For babies under one year old, every month is a huge step. In such a short period of time, which adults don’t even notice, the baby masters a large number of new skills and abilities, and becomes more and more adapted to the world. And this is true: the difference between a person at 30 years old and at 35 is imperceptible, but between a person at 3 months and at 4 months there is practically an abyss.

Why do you need to monitor your child's development?

Babies, along with kittens, are definitely among the top 3 cutest things on our planet. That’s why you don’t always want to treat them with some exactingness, expecting to see specific skills and abilities at a certain age. This is reinforced by the thought that each person is individual - a correct thought, of course, but one should not abuse it. Like, he doesn’t know how - and okay, he’ll learn. In this regard, the question of whether it is necessary to monitor the child’s development already at such a tender age - from 4 to 5 months - may arise. However, the answer is absolutely clear: yes!

During the first year of development of the baby, all the organs and systems of his body, including the brain, improve by leaps and bounds. This means that the absence of certain skills promises a lag in future development. Each new skill is a “springboard” for the next. For example, turning over from back to stomach, which the baby learned at 3 months, is preparation for crawling. By holding his gaze on a toy, the baby learns to focus his attention, to concentrate on one object or person. There are a huge number of such examples. That is why it is so important to observe how the child develops at 4 months of life.

Child development at 4 months: girl and boy

I would like to say a few words about the fact that even at such a tiny age there is some difference between the different sexes. The physical development of a child at 4 months occurs at different rates: a girl is already lighter at this age, her body length and head circumference are smaller than those of boys. It’s just important to remember that this is a rule, to which, of course, there are exceptions! A boy's baby's development at 4 months may be correct, but he will weigh less than some girls. Both individual characteristics and, of course, heredity play a role here.

However, perhaps this is where the differences end. Of the actual sexual differences - only the external genitalia. Otherwise, all development processes proceed in the same way. Girls are no whinier than boys, and they, in turn, are no braver. They equally love bright toys, react to their mother’s voice, love to swim and are capricious when left alone. This is explained simply: the hormonal system is not yet active, but it is hormones that are largely responsible for the characteristics of human development and behavior.

Physical development of a baby at 4 months

The baby’s physical development does not slow down at all from 4 to 5 months. He needs more strength, because the level of his motor activity is increasing.

The most important criteria that allow us to assess the correct development of a child are height and weight parameters. These indicators are assessed for the first time immediately after the birth of a person. Health care workers measure weight, body length, chest and head circumference. It is mandatory to enter this data into the newborn’s medical record. In the future, measurements are carried out without fail every time at an appointment with a pediatrician.

Weight

The weight indicator is the most important value reflecting the child’s health status. Of course, every little person is individual. The values ​​depend largely on birth weight, heredity, and type of nutrition.

Thus, children born prematurely, but receiving good care, “catch up” with their peers during this period. Having low birth weight, from 4 to 5 months of age they gain weight faster than babies born at term. Often, such babies are recommended to introduce complementary foods as early as 3 months, which further promotes weight gain. At the same time, it is possible that the guys begin to lag even further behind the standard. This situation can arise if the mother is not eating properly.

Artificial feeding also promotes faster weight gain. This is due to two factors. Firstly, the higher calorie content of infant formula, especially if we are talking about special, therapeutic nutrition (relevant for the same prematurity). Secondly, the formula flows from the nipple on the bottle much faster than from the female nipple. To suck it out, you don’t need to make any special effort; it actually pours directly into your mouth. In this regard, children do not get tired and do not stop on time.

If you suspect, be sure to read this article. The information will bring clarity about constipation in babies, you will learn what to do and how not to harm it.

However, despite all these factors, there are some standards. Thus, the average weight of girls at this age is from 5600 g to 6500 g. At the same time, the minimum normal limit is 5 kg, and the maximum is 7.4 kg. Boys, in turn, usually weigh from 6200 g to 7200 g. The lower threshold is 5.4 kg, the upper threshold is 8.6 kg. My son weighed 7.4 kg at 4 months.

In addition, in the 4th month of life, the baby should gain about 750 g. Such a significant figure is due to the fact that the baby, although actively moving, is not yet crawling. This means that many calories are not being burned yet.

Body length

The growth of a baby is an equally important sign of his health. The little miracle is slowly stretching out, and is now a full 10 cm larger than at birth! For boys, normal height is considered to be between 58.6 and 68.7 cm, and for girls, between 57.6 and 66.4. My son at this age was 66.5 cm tall.

At this stage, stunting of less than 10% of normal is not a cause for serious concern. In other cases, you should consult your doctor.

As mentioned in the previous article, the baby does not owe anything to anyone. At the age of 4 to 5 months, previously developed skills are “consolidated” and new ones emerge. The baby can easily turn from back to tummy and back through either side. Lying on his stomach, he rises not only on his forearms, but also on his palms. He has finally learned to hold his head up, and now he happily uses this skill, looking at everything around him.

Trying to sit

If you put your baby’s fingers in your palms, he will definitely clasp them. He started doing this when he was 3 months old, but now he has perfected this skill. If you pull your hands towards you, the little athlete will still hold on tightly. As a result, his body will rise with straightened arms. When such an action occurs for the first time, the child may be frightened, because this situation is unusual for him. However, after a couple of times he will get the taste and slowly begin to “ask” for such entertainment. His request is to lightly pull your hands towards you as soon as your fingers are in his palms.

However, be careful! The baby, although he is trying to sit down, cannot do this yet. The back muscles are not developed enough, and it is too early to plant him. Do not cover it with pillows to prevent it from falling over.

Child development at 4 months Dr. E.O. Komarovsky characterizes it as categorically insufficient for planting!

Other skills

The child grabs not only the mother’s fingers, but also toys. Despite the fact that his palms are open almost all the time, he happily squeezes objects if you put them in his hands. Now he can take the rattle, not only holding it between two palms, but also in one hand. He can hold it for almost half a minute and can look at it carefully. He will definitely taste her, getting to know her through his lips and tongue. He will try to put it completely in his mouth (so no small toys or falling off parts!).

Moreover, the baby knows what to do to make the rattle make a sound. Thus, he begins to realize the connection between his action and the “activity” of the object in his hands.

But the best toy for him remains his own hands. He will definitely stuff them into his mouth. In addition, he now only knows how to suck one finger. The baby happily claps his hands, fingers, and touches his face and the faces of family members.

If, while holding a child in your arms, you “put” him on a horizontal surface, he will rest his toes, try to push off, and move his legs.

Feeding behavior

The little miracle already realizes that there is food in the bottle or in the mother’s breast. He supports both with his hands during feeding. When he drinks from a bottle, his hands are always on it. By the end of 4 months, he may even be able to hold a half-empty bottle in his hands on his own. However, this action does not occur entirely consciously, and will not last longer than 3-5 seconds.

Vision development

A child's eyeball is constantly developing. By the end of 3 months, he learned to distinguish between yellow, green and red colors, and by 4 months he gradually begins to distinguish blue. Tiny little thing likes bright objects. At the same time, he distinguishes monochromatic things better than those with many colors. At the same time, too bright, almost acidic toys quickly tire the optic nerve. In this regard, at such a tender age it is not recommended to use toys with light bulbs that flash in several colors. It is much better if the object contains sound.

Follows moving objects with his eyes, searches for them if removed from the field of view. Little by little he realizes that things don’t disappear behind his mother’s back, and tries to look in search of the toy that was taken. If a baby played with some object for a long time, then it was removed, and then shown to him again, the baby will recognize this thing.

Hearing development

Now your sun can find the source of sound, even if it doesn’t see it. You just have to shake the ringing rattle out of sight of the baby, and after a couple of seconds he will turn his head in your direction. Will become upset if it does not detect the source of the sound, especially if it is familiar (for example, a familiar song).

Reacts differently to cheerful and calm music. Shows a complex of animation for cheerful songs, tries to sing along, actively waves his arms and legs. At the same time, he listens carefully to calm music.

Recognizes the voices of parents and family members, even if he does not see them. If his mother or father calls him, he will turn to the call even in a room filled with sounds. If an unfamiliar voice addresses him, and the baby is not in complete silence, he may not react to it in any way.

The baby is afraid of loud unpleasant sounds. He reacts worse to high tones than to low tones, which have a calming effect on him. May be frightened by human screams or barking dogs. In addition, he can clearly distinguish emotions by ear, so scandals and quarrels make him worry and cry.

So, a 4-month-old child: development, what should he be able to do?

• Roll over from back to stomach and back;
• rise on your palms from your stomach, hold on for several minutes;
• grasping mother’s fingers with your palms, rise in your arms;
• grab toys with your hands, hold them, shake rattles;
• turn towards the source of the sound;
• clap your hands;
• distinguish brighter toys from dull ones;
• Hold your mother's breast or bottle with your hands while feeding.

Cognitive development

Immediately after the information about vision and hearing, I would like to talk about cognitive development. Your baby, since she now distinguishes colors, can distinguish between toys that are more and less bright. He recognizes them and selects his favorite ones (usually those that are brighter). A little person likes things of unusual shape; he can twirl them in his hands, touch them with his fingers, studying the curves and corners. While the baby does not understand exactly how toys differ, he reacts differently to big and small things.

Sounding objects give him special pleasure. He will be more happy to play with “noisemakers” than with silent things. Little by little, he remembers exactly what sound this or that toy makes, and identifies those that he likes. So, at this age, my son’s every toy was a snail that made several sounds, could roll, and had an unbreakable mirror.

How to develop a baby at 4 months? There must be a mobile above the crib, and now toys should hang lower. If the baby does not react to them at all, rock them. Let the movement be accompanied by sound.

Show your son or daughter how to make sound from a toy. Please note that this should be simple (wave a rattle, press a big button, hit a toy on a surface). After some time, he will learn to “voice” the object on his own.

Social development

As already mentioned, the child recognizes mom and dad, other family members whom he sees more often than others. However, if mom changes her hairstyle or hair color, puts on dark glasses or a wide-brimmed hat, the baby may not recognize her. Therefore, in the first six months it is better to do without changing the image, so that the baby better remembers the mother’s appearance and gets used to it.

He smiles more and more often, and now he can laugh out loud. Usually this reaction is caused by the mother’s laughter (babies are little monkeys, they copy the emotions of those looking at them). A baby may laugh when he sees a bright rattle, while actively playing with him, or when he sees another child. A special point worth highlighting is his “dialogue” with his mother. If she actively repeats the sounds after him, the baby will definitely laugh. But a gentle, calm conversation causes a buzz.

The range of emotions that a little miracle can experience is gradually expanding. Now you can understand when he is happy, pleasant, sad or lonely. The resentment is well expressed: if a child’s rattle is taken away at the age of two months, it is not a fact that he will even notice it. Now the baby knows that he had it, but now he doesn’t! Resentment is expressed by “bitching”, dissatisfied muttering, and then shrill crying. A child can be capricious and ask for attention.

The baby understands when they are talking to him, when they are talking about him. He responds to his name and tries to repeat it. In response to the pronunciation of the name, a revival complex develops - the baby understands that they are communicating with him, and this makes him very happy. He waves his arms and legs, smiles with all his might, squeals cheerfully, and laughs. A child at 4 months: development, what should he be able to do? Respond to kindness with kindness.

This behavior can now develop in the absence of a “human stimulus.” The point is that the baby, even when alone, from time to time begins to actively move, walk, and talk. Toys, sounds, and pets, if any, provoke such a reaction.

The reaction to strangers intensifies by the 5th month of life. The little person begins to be afraid of strangers, frown, cry, especially when he does not see his mother. At the same time, in her presence she is good at getting on people’s hands, especially if they do not cause fear. Small children are distrustful of a person who emits a strong odor (perfume, alcohol).

How to communicate with your baby?

Children always imitate the facial expressions of their parents, especially their mothers. That’s why it’s so important to appear in front of your baby with a smile: he will also smile back. A baby can already do this.

When talking to your baby, try not to scare him. Don't make too loud noises or yell at your child, even if you are very tired. The best way to show your dissatisfaction with his behavior is with a serious intonation. Babies are very sensitive to the mood of their relatives. If the person nearby smiles, the child will receive a loud laugh in response. If he is angry or angry, then the baby will worry and cry.

“Reed tongue”

Firstly, playing with your own tongue is an incredibly important stage of pre-speech training. The baby prepares this muscle of his body to perform certain movements. In addition, the fact that infants stick out their tongues is largely due to the “thrust reflex.” This property prevents the cub from choking on its own saliva, which is in abundance. The fact that this reflex is present means that he is not yet ready to accept food from a spoon. At the same time, many pediatricians and child psychologists argue that this is a unique way of communication.

Small children, having discovered that some action amuses their loved ones, will definitely repeat it. So, when the child sticks out his tongue for the first time, he will see that his mother will laugh. And he will certainly begin to do this more often in order to see the positive emotions of a loved one.

When the baby is hungry, or before feeding, he often licks his lips, sticks out his tongue, and begins to smack his lips. He performs similar actions when he sees what other people are eating.

However, a constantly sticking out tongue, especially in combination with anxiety, may indicate the formation of ulcers or other damage in the mouth.

Other reasons why your baby sticks out his tongue:

• high body or air temperature in the room (yes, just like a dog);
• thirst;
• foreign body (hair, dust from bed linen, etc.) in the mouth.

Many parents worry: a protruding tongue is a sign of underdeveloped facial muscles. It is believed that a healthy child at 4 months has sufficient development that he should be able to hide his tongue. However, this factor alone should not cause panic! Children with such a pathology can be seen by their facial expressions and the absence of emotions on it.

Another common fear is congenital hypothyroidism (lack of thyroid hormones). Indeed, a tongue that is too large and does not fit in the oral cavity may be a sign of this disease. However, in this case there will be other symptoms:

• deviations from weight and height standards;
• jaundice;
• delayed psychomotor development;
• dry skin;
• excessive pallor;
• hoarseness of voice.

Speech development

A child at 4 months - speech development, what should he be able to pronounce? Firstly, these are all vowel sounds, often merging into funny combinations. In addition, the baby already knows how to pronounce similar sounds “p”, “b”, “m”. It is quite difficult to make out them in the babbling of a baby, but the appearance of more consonants is noticeable.

How to develop a child at 4 months?

1. The mother should talk to the child more, pointing to objects and saying their names. While the baby has not yet formed a name-object system, he will begin to remember words.
2. Call your child by name and call yourself “mom” or “dad” more often. Show your child his reflection in the mirror and say his name.
3. You should try to repeat after the baby. And then he will also begin to repeat after you.
4. To provoke a child to engage in independent speech activity, every day, when approaching him, you should immediately start talking. And then, after a while, approach silently. And then your sun will be the first to “speak” to you.

Child nutrition

The best option to ensure that a child at 4 months has good development and can do everything he should be able to do is breastfeeding. After all, it is mother’s milk that contains all the necessary substances and elements. It promotes development both physical and emotional. In addition, if the baby’s gastrointestinal tract is healthy, then his mood and “performance” are higher.

Children at a tender age often suffer from colic. By the age of 4 months they may go away, but this, unfortunately, is not the rule. Often, discomfort in a small tummy continues for up to six months.

Introducing complementary foods at 4 months to breastfed babies is premature. The baby’s body is not yet ready to accept new food and will most likely respond to it with an allergy or intolerance.

However, in some cases, the introduction of additional products is prescribed as early as 3 months of age, for example, in cases of prematurity. In this case, by the end of 4 months, the baby’s menu may include three types of porridge (without cow’s milk, subject to tolerance). In addition, two or three types of mono-component vegetable puree (ideal combination - zucchini, broccoli, pumpkin). At 4 months, you can introduce homemade mashed potatoes. If the pediatrician does not prohibit it, it is possible to introduce fruit juice.

In exceptional cases (critical weight loss), only a pediatrician can prescribe the introduction of meat complementary foods - meat purees or even chicken broth. It is best to use ready-made meat purees (chicken, turkey). It is not recommended to prepare this complementary food at home due to the high risk of working with low-quality meat products.

If we talk about artificial babies, then 4 months is the time to start complementary feeding.

Signals indicating that “it’s definitely time!” are:

• the child asks for a bottle more often than usual;
• the baby’s initial weight doubled;
• The “pushing reflex” disappeared.

The rules for introducing complementary foods are a topic for a separate article. Briefly, the basic rules are as follows:

• Only healthy children can be given complementary foods;
• you need to start with 5 grams of any product, gradually increasing the volume;
• You cannot introduce several foods at once; give the child’s body the opportunity to get used to the new food;
• you need to wait if your child is planning to receive preventive vaccinations in the next two weeks.

When should you start worrying?

Parents often ask the question: “A child at 4 months: development, what should he be able to do?” They must be prepared for the fact that their baby does not have all the skills developed. However, please do not be too quick to panic! After all, every person, even the smallest one, has individual characteristics and development rates. And it is your baby who, perhaps in a week, will learn everything he “should.”

However, it is necessary to notice and not let deviations take their course if:

• the baby still hasn’t learned to roll over;
• apathetic, does not smile, does not react to mother;
• does not make any pre-speech sounds at all, only cries;
• can't hold on to your fingers;
• does not react to toys, does not focus on them.

One way or another, every baby should visit a pediatrician monthly. At the appointment, be sure to tell us about your observations and express your concerns. The doctor will certainly conduct an examination and give an opinion on whether everything is in order or if correction is required. The pediatrician can prescribe tests and consultation with more specialized specialists, the main one of whom will be a pediatric neurologist. It is possible to use vitamin complexes, switch to therapeutic nutrition, and massage.

Remember that the doctor and mother look at the question of what kind of development a child should have at 4 months, what he should be able to do, differently. The doctor evaluates not only behavioral reactions, but a set of physiological, psychological, and laboratory indicators. And if the overall picture does not cause concern, then achieving the required level is only a matter of time.

How to help your baby yourself?

1. Provoke him to engage in independent speech activity.
2. Talk to him more often, don’t leave him unattended for too long.
3. Turn him from tummy to back and back, push him, reward him for success with affection.
4. Try to interest the baby with toys, songs, and pictures.
5. Don’t forget to do gymnastics and massage, invite a massage therapist to your baby to improve muscle tone, or do it yourself.
6. Buy bright, sounding toys to make it easier for your child to focus on them.

Important points

When there is a four-month-old baby in the house, life flows according to his rules. There are several important points that parents should not forget:

1. Be sure to keep toys clean. A child at 4 months of age sends everything “for examination” to his mouth: this is a mandatory stage of learning.
2. The surface on which the baby is located must be clean. If you place it on the floor, the covering must be washed or vacuumed daily. The sofa should also be vacuumed. You can cover it with a clean sheet.
3. Make sure that pets do not jump into the crib. This is dangerous not only due to the introduction of infection, but also the development of allergies.
4. Never leave your baby unattended outside the crib, such as on the sofa. Despite the fact that he is not crawling yet, the baby can easily roll off him and hit him.

Remember: each child at 4 months has his own development, and what he should be able to do is determined only by general, average rules. The most important thing is to carefully monitor your baby, giving him maximum love and care.