Developmental milestones record - 4 months

Alternative names

Normal childhood growth milestones - 4 months; Childhood growth milestones - 4 months; Growth milestones for children - 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
  

Sensory and cognitive:

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

Play:

• 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