Alternate Names : Childhood Growth Milestones - 4 Months, Growth Milestones for Children - 4 Months, Normal Childhood Growth Milestones - 4 Months

Definition

This article describes the skills and growth markers relevant to 4 month-old infants.

Information

Physical and motor:

• Weight gain slows to approximately 20 grams per day
• Moro reflex, asymmetric tonic neck reflex, rooting reflex, and Perez reflex disappearing
• Almost no head lag while in a sitting position
• Able to sit straight up if propped
• Able to raise head 90 degrees when placed on stomach
• Able to roll from back to one side
• Tries to reach objects with hands, but commonly overshoots
• Plays with rattle when placed in hands, but unable to pick it up if dropped
• Grasps rattle with both hands
• Able to place objects in mouth

• Close vision well established
• Eye-hand coordination beginning
• Can make the consonant sounds:
  • N
  • K
  • P
  • G
  • B
• Laughs out loud
• Anticipates feeding when able to see a bottle (if bottle-fed)
• Begins to show memory
• Demands attention by fussing

• Place the baby in front of a mirror
• Provide bright colored toys to hold
• Repeat sounds the infant makes
• Help the infant roll over
• Use a swing or stroller