4 Month Old Baby Development: Stronger Legs, Bigger Appetite
Your little one has added a whole new move to his infant repertoire. He can now raise himself up with straightened arms when lying on his belly. The new moves in your repertoire? Typing, talking on the phone and vacuuming with one hand.
What You're Thinking: "Just think how productive I would have been if I'd only gotten so good at doing things with one hand years ago!"
Baby Milestones
- Your baby may be able to bear his weight if you hold him up on his legs. Can soccer practice be far behind?
- Play with your baby (and practice the weight-bearing exercise) by letting her sit in front of you on the carpet, grasping your fingers and pulling her up to stand.
- Hold your baby so she can stand on her legs, bounce and get jiggy to your favorite music.
- Your baby's tummy is bigger now (at birth it was the size of a marble, now it's the size of her fist) and she's eating fewer, bigger meals. Breastfed babies are probably chowing down six to eight times a day while bottle-fed babes are probably eating four to five times a day, which means you finally have time to do something in between meals!
Mommy Milestones
- You talk about your baby's bowel movements even though you swore you'd never be one of those moms. (To be fair, you do spare your friends who don't have children, so you haven't totally lost it).
- You and your partner rented a movie and you—get this—stayed up to see the whole flick (even the closing credits).
- You napped at baby's naptime and let the house chores wait (they will still be there when you wake up, don't worry).
- You finally remembered all those gift cards you have and didn't have to use cash or a credit card to buy new baby clothes.
- You carried your baby in the carrier, a bag of groceries in one hand and a bag of diapers and wipes in the other ... and you didn't pass out.
Home Front
Before you know it, that immobile kid if yours is going to be zooming around the house ... getting into everything. So, NOW—not after the first time she finds your makeup bag open on the floor—is the time to start your babyproofing. And the first stop on this tour is the nursery. Read more ...
Everything you ever wanted to know ... and were just about to ask ...
Do it:
Main Squeeze
Mummy tummy? What Mummy tummy?
Buy it: Baby Bed Blocks
Keep baby's stuffy head elevated without holding it up all night!
Share It: Babyproofing Paranoia Runs Deep ... Even Into Adolescence
Sometimes well-meaning safety measures can go a leeeeetle too far!
Discuss It: Chat with other new mamas and papas on our Baby Board.
BACK: Baby Development: More Month 4 / NEXT: Baby Development: More Month 4
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.
report abuseMummy tummy? What Mummy tummy?
Buy it: Baby Bed Blocks
Keep baby's stuffy head elevated without holding it up all night!
Share It: Babyproofing Paranoia Runs Deep ... Even Into Adolescence
Sometimes well-meaning safety measures can go a leeeeetle too far!
Discuss It: Chat with other new mamas and papas on our Baby Board.
BACK: Baby Development: More Month 4 / NEXT: Baby Development: More Month 4
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.
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