Important Milestones: Your Baby By Four Months

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CDC’s milestones and parent tips have been updated and new checklist ages have been added (15 and 30 months). For more information about the recent updates to CDC’s developmental milestones, please review the Pediatrics journal article and these important key points.

How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about your child’s development. Developmental milestones are things most children (75% or more) can do by a certain age.

Check the milestones your child has reached by 4 months by completing a checklist with CDC’s free Milestone Tracker mobile app, for iOS and Android devices, using the Digital Online Checklist, or by printing the checklist [908 KB, 2 Pages, Print Only] below.

“Learn the Signs. Act Early.” materials are not a substitute for standardized, validated developmental screening tools.

What most babies do by this age:

Social/Emotional Milestones

Smiles on his own to get your attention
Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make him laugh

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Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention

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Language/Communication Milestones

Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)

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Makes sounds back when you talk to him

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Turns head towards the sound of your voice

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Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving

If hungry, opens mouth when he sees breast or bottle
Looks at her hands with interest

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Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Holds head steady without support when you are holding him

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Holds a toy when you put it in his hand

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Uses his arm to swing at toys

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Brings hands to mouth

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Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

Learn more about physical development

Other important things to share with the doctor…

What are some things you and your baby do together?
What are some things your baby likes to do?
Is there anything your baby does or does not do that concerns you?
Has your baby lost any skills he/she once had?
Does your baby have any special healthcare needs or was he/she born prematurely?

Download CDC’s free Milestone Tracker App

View

Concerned About Your Child’s Development?
Act Early.

You know your child best. Don’t wait. If your child is not meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills he or she once had, or you have other concerns, act early. Talk with your child’s doctor, share your concerns, and ask about developmental screening.

If you or the doctor are still concerned:

Ask for a referral to a specialist who can evaluate your child more; and
Call your state or territory’s early intervention program to find out if your child can get services to help. Learn more and find the number at cdc.gov/FindEI.

For more on how to help your child, visit cdc.gov/Concerned.

Tips and Activities: What You Can Do for Your 4 month old

As your baby’s first teacher, you can help his or her learning and brain development. Try these simple tips and activities in a safe way. Talk with your baby’s doctor and teachers if you have questions or for more ideas on how to help your baby’s development.

Respond positively to your baby. Act excited, smile, and talk to him when he makes sounds. This teaches him to take turns “talking” back and forth in conversation.
Provide safe opportunities for your baby to reach for toys, kick at toys and explore what is around her. For example, put her on a blanket with safe toys.
Allow your baby to put safe things in his mouth to explore them. This is how babies learn. For example, let him see, hear, and touch things that are not sharp, hot, or small enough to choke on.

Click here for more tips and activities

Talk, read, and sing to your baby. This will help her learn to speak and understand words later.
Limit screen time (TV, phones, tablets, etc.) to video calling with loved ones. Screen time is not recommended for children younger than 2 years of age. Babies learn by talking, playing, and interacting with others.
Feed only breast milk or formula to your baby. Babies are not ready for other foods, water or other drinks for about the first 6 months of life.
Give your baby safe toys to play with that are easy to hold, like rattles or cloth books with colorful pictures for her age.
Let your baby have time to move and interact with people and objects throughout the day. Try not to keep your baby in swings, strollers, or bouncy seats for too long.
Set steady routines for sleeping and feeding.
Lay your baby on her back and show her a bright-colored toy. Move the toy slowly from left to right and up and down to see if she watches how the toy moves.
Sing and talk to your baby as you help her “exercise” (move her body) for a few minutes. Gently bend and move her arms and legs up and down.
Play with your baby by holding him securely under his arms with his feet on your lap. Let him bounce up and down.
Play games, such as peek-a-boo. You can cover your eyes with your hands and then uncover and say “peek-a-boo.” Watch for your baby’s smile or other signs he is enjoying the game.
Pay close attention to how your baby reacts to different things. This will help you learn what she likes and doesn’t like and what makes her feel good.
Copy your baby’s sounds and see how long your baby “talks” back and forth with you.
Call your baby by his name to help him learn it. He will start to recognize it around 9 months. For example, “Are you ticklish, Jordan?”
Playing on the floor or play mat with your baby every day helps him to move, learn, and explore.
Hold and talk to your baby; smile and be cheerful while you do.
Have quiet play times when you “read” or sing to your baby.

Special acknowledgments to the subject matter experts and others who contributed to the review of data and selection of developmental milestones, especially Paul H. Lipkin, MD, Michelle M. Macias, MD, Julie F. Pajek, PhD, Judith S. Shaw, EdD, MPH, RN, Karnesha Slaughter, MPH, Jane K. Squires, PhD, Toni M. Whitaker, MD, Lisa D. Wiggins, PhD, and Jennifer M. Zubler, MD.

Sincere gratitude to Natalia Benza, MD and José O. Rodríguez, MD, MBA for their thoughtful review of the Spanish-language translation of these milestones.