Baby Language and Other Development in 4-Month-Olds

You're baby is looking like, well, a baby! Those newborn days with that little scrunched face are weeks behind her and you're noticing new resemblances every day. Your mother's nose. Your husband's ears. Your father-in-law's bald head. See, there's plenty of family resemblance to go around!
What You're Thinking: "I could eat you up with a spoon, kid!"

• By this point, your little genius has developed an understanding of all the fundamental sounds that make up her native language. Encourage your baby's language development by mimicking the sounds she makes and initiating some of your own "Googoo, gaga" conversations.
• Your baby will probably be able to hold her head up straight by now. When it happens, you'll take pictures and call 11 different relatives. She'll look steadily around and wonder what the big deal is.
• You're probably eager to start feeding baby solids, but hold the strained peas. Common current wisdom is that it's better to wait until 6 months. Why? Because baby's intestinal lining is going through a change called "closure" over the next few months, which will make her less susceptible to developing food allergies. Plus your kid's tongue thrust and swallowing reflexes are still working out the kinks—which means she'll get a lot more food down her gullet than on her bib in a few weeks. (Of course, all babies are different, so talk to your pediatrician to see what's right for your baby.)

• If you're breastfeeding, your breasts swell with milk at the sound of a baby crying ... any baby crying.
• You think you've figured out what color eyes your baby will have permanently.
• You only stubbed your toe twice during those midnight walks around the house to feed the baby, soothe the baby, change the baby ...
• You love that getting presents for your parents has become easier since you became a mom (give them anything containing baby pictures and they are thrilled).
• You got to watch two TiVo'd episodes of Ellen this week (well, two TiVo'd monologues of Ellen, anyway).

Move over bouncy seat ... baby's got a new best friend! If your baby has strengthened his neck and trunk and you haven't yet discovered the wonders of the "stationary play center"—the most common of which is the ExerSaucer—you and your baby are in for a treat. Get the inside scoop on baby "saucers" and learn why it might just become your new best friend, too. Read more ...

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Do It: Climbing Mount Baby
Let your fingers do the walking!
Buy It: Frog Bottle Hugger
A snuggly and a snack all in one!
Share It: My Son Stinks at Sleeping
Baby still up every few hours at night? Join the club!
Discuss It: Chat with other new mamas and papas on our Baby Board.

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All babies grow and develop at different rates. So please don't compare your kid with so-and-so's baby from across the street—you'll just drive yourself nuts. If you have any concerns, bring them up with your pediatrician at your baby's next checkup.