Has your baby reached four months of age? If so, this is a fun age. At this age, a lot of your day is going to be spent playing with your baby. Babies tend to smile, laugh, and reach for objects all the time. This is when babies tend to develop a lot of curiosity. Your baby made even be showing you some new athletic skills that he or she has developed. Your baby can probably roll over by this age. What else do you need to know about babies who have reached four months of age? Learn more about these developmental milestones!
Length and Weight at 4 Months of Age
At 4 months of age, babies are continuing to grow and develop at a rapid pace. On average, girls who have reached four months of age will weigh just over 14 lb. Boys will weigh between 15 and 16 lb. Girls tend to be just over 14 inches in length is age. In contrast, boys tend to be just over 25 inches.
Now, this does not mean the babies that are outside these ranges are unhealthy. What is important is that your baby is continuing to track on his or her own growth curve. If your baby is continuing to gain weight and length at the same rate as prior months, this is a good sign. It is a sign that your baby is growing and developing appropriately.
Developmental Milestones at 4 Months of Age
You will probably notice a lot of development during this month. For example, your baby is going to learn about the world around them through his or her own senses. You will probably notice that your baby is bringing objects to his or her mouth, then possibly chewing on them. Your baby is also going to imitate you a lot. You may even feel like you are having conversations with your baby. If you make a funny face, your baby should giggle at you. Finally, babies also tend to look at objects in the distance. This is a sign that their eyes are developing as well.
You may notice that your baby is able to roll from his or her stomach onto his or her back. This is a good sign that his or her gross motor skills are developing. Your baby may do this a lot, so make sure your baby does not roll off of a couch or a table.
You may also notice that your baby can push up using his or her elbows. This is another sign that some of those larger muscles are developing. Tummy time is going to change quickly when your baby is able to do this.
A baby that is at 4 months of age may also start the teething process, if they haven’t already begun. This means that anything your baby touches will almost instantly be covered in drool. Of course, this is another reason why you need to keep dangerous objects away from your baby. You do not want your baby putting anything in their mouth that could harm them.
Eating and Diaper Habits in 4-Month-Old Babies
Of course, it is also important to take a closer look at eating and diaper habits at this age as well. During this time, you should continue to give your baby plenty of breastmilk and formula. Because babies are getting bigger, some parents begin to supplement breastmilk with additional formula. If you would like to do this, you should talk with your baby’s doctor to make sure you are doing so appropriately.
Of course, you may also be wondering if your 4-month-old is ready to start eating different types of food. The answer is that it really depends, and you should consult your pediatrician for a better idea. You may want to take a look at whether your baby is teething. You also need to assess the power of your baby’s gross and fine motor skills. Eating is actually a complicated process, and you need to make sure your baby is ready for this. If you have questions about this, you should talk about it with your baby’s pediatrician. You want to introduce foods that your baby eat; however, you also want to introduce foods one at a time, so you can tell whether your baby is allergic to them. Some food allergies are going to be picked up during this process. If you have a family history of allergies, this is even more important.
Finally, as you continue to breast or bottle-feed your baby, understand that your baby should be eating between four and six times per day. Babies at this age are going to eat approximately 25 oz every day. If you are wondering if your baby is eating enough, take a look at his or her weight. If your baby is gaining weight, that is a good sign.
The Sleep Schedule at 4 Months
So, what about the sleep schedule? Babies at this age are still going to sleep approximately 15 hours total every day. Your baby will probably also sleep approximately 10 hours during the night. Even though your baby is not going to sleep for 10 hours in a row, there is a good chance your baby can sleep between 6 and 7 hours continuously. This means that your sleep schedule is going to improve as well.
It is not unusual for babies that are at 4 months of age to take two naps during the day. One of these naps might take place during the morning. Then another nap might take place during the afternoon. If your baby is having trouble falling asleep at night, you may want to move that afternoon nap a bit earlier. That way, your baby is more tired when it comes time to go down for the night.
Have Questions, or Need an Appointment for Your Baby? Contact North Texas Medical Center Today!
Ultimately, there is a lot of excitement that takes place at 4 months of age. Your baby is growing and developing quickly, so you need to make sure your baby is meeting all of his or her developmental milestones. That is why it is important to always meet with a trained pediatrician. Whether you are a returning patient, or you are looking for a new doctor to help you, it would be our pleasure to assist you. Here at North Texas Medical Center, we provide families in the area with access to some of the top pediatricians in the region.
