Healthy Start, Grow Smart Series - 04 - Four Month
Healthy Start, Grow Smart Series - 04 - Four Month
Healthy Start, Grow Smart Series - 04 - Four Month
Grow Smart
Your Four-Month -Old
Healthy Start,
Grow Smart
Your Four-Month-Old
Prepared by:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2002
Acknowledgments Here’s What’s Inside
This publication was an initiative of Laura Bush as the First Lady of Texas Your Baby Is Four Months Old . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
and sponsored by the Texas Department of Health. President Bush and Mrs.
Bush have asked that this series of booklets be revised and distributed by Feeding Your Baby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Education and the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Taking Care of Your Baby’s Gums and Future Teeth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
We would like to thank the Texas Department of Health for their coopera- Your Baby’s Four-Month Checkup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
tion and assistance in bringing this publication to families across the
United States. In addition, we recognize the contributions that Susan H. Dads Are Important . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Landry, Ph.D., Craig T. Ramey, Ph.D. and many other individuals made in
the development of this magazine. Questions Parents Ask . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
When she is feeding, she stops and plays with your clothes, or she looks at
other people in the room.
She may try to roll over. The more she tries, the better she can do it.
She smiles when she sees her parents and other people who care for her.
She may frown when she sees strangers. She babbles. She tries to imitate
your words as she makes sounds.
She may start sleeping at night for longer and longer periods of time. She
will love it when you sit on the floor and play with her. You can have a lot
of fun with your baby at this age.
The more you help her explore, the more she will reward you with smiles,
happy sounds and love. You can help her by playing with her, singing to her
and talking to her. Enjoy your baby as she grows and develops!
Make sure your baby is Mix some infant cereal with breast milk in a bowl. You can also use formula
ready for solid food before instead of breast milk. Don’t use cow’s milk or any other kind of milk or
you give it to her. Don’t rush other liquid. Hold your baby in a sitting position or put her in a child seat
her into eating solid food. Some on the floor (Be sure she is strapped in.) so she doesn’t choke. Always use a
babies are ready for it at four spoon to feed solid foods to your baby.
months. Some babies aren’t
ready until they are older. Your baby’s weight or age alone does not determine See if your baby will take half of a very small spoonful. If she turns her head
her readiness for solid food. away or cries, she’s not ready. Try again in a week or two.
Here are some signs to look for that will tell you if your baby is ready to When she is ready, she will take small, messy bites. She may roll the food
try solid food: around in her mouth or feel it repeatedly with her tongue. Making a mess
is part of learning, so just have fun with her. At this age, your breast milk
★ She holds her head steady and sits with support. or infant formula provides all the nutrition your baby needs.
★ She reaches for and shows interest in food.
★ She opens her mouth when she sees food. Give your baby only one new food at a time. You can then see if any one of
★ She no longer thrusts her tongue out during feeding, so she’s able to the foods causes allergic reactions. Right now, only infant cereals are a good
keep food in her mouth and swallow it. choice. If one of these types of cereals is a problem for her, she will vomit
or get a rash. She may also have diarrhea. If this happens, call your doctor
★ She turns her head away when she’s full.
or go to your clinic.
Most babies are ready for baby cereal when they’re between four and six
months of age. Ask your doctor about the best time to start your baby on
solid food. Rice, oatmeal or barley cereals are OK if they are finely ground.
Use them one at a time.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 2 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 3 Your Four-Month -Old
Taking Care of Your Baby’s Gums Your Baby’s Four-Month Checkup
and Future Teeth Your baby needs regular health
checkups. She needs the checkups even if
she’s not sick. Checkups can keep her
healthy. She will have her vision, hearing,
It’s never too early to start weight and length checked.
taking care of your baby’s future Your baby will receive shots. Ask your
teeth. Here are some simple things doctor or nurse what to look for and what you
you can do for her: should do if your baby has any reaction to
these shots, like fever or fussiness. Shots will
★ Never put your baby to sleep with a keep her from getting sick and keep her
bottle. healthy.
★ Once a day, gently wipe her gums with a wet, clean soft cloth. Start
The doctor will also make sure your baby is developing as she
should. The doctor will ask you if your baby is reaching for toys. He will
doing this even before her teeth come in.
ask if your baby smiles and coos.
★ Some babies show teeth as early as four or five months. Most babies
show teeth between six and eight months.
Before the checkup, write down questions you have about your baby.
Bring the questions with you to the checkup. This is a good time to ask any
★ When her teeth begin to show, you may use a soft toothbrush for cleaning. questions you have about your baby. This is a good time to ask the doctor or
Make sure it is baby-sized. Or you can continue to clean her teeth every nurse questions like, “What are the symptoms a baby has when she has a
day with a cloth. cold? How should I treat her if she has a cold? What kinds of problems should
★ Gently brush her teeth with water only. Toothpaste is not needed until I call you for? What temperature should I call you for?”
your baby is around three years old. She should be old enough to spit Always ask the nurse or doctor for a copy of your baby’s checkup
out the toothpaste after brushing. results. It’s a good idea to keep the copy in a notebook or safe place. If the
doctor tells you to give your baby any medicines, write down the names of
the medicines and directions. Using a notebook will help you keep track of
your baby’s health and development. Make an appointment for your baby’s
six-month checkup.
Your baby may get her first cold or ear infection. As your baby
explores her world and plays with other children and adults, she will have
more contact with germs. If you don’t know what to do about her symp-
toms, call your doctor or clinic. They will be able to tell you if she needs to
see a doctor.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 4 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 5 Your Four-Month -Old
Dads Are Important
Dad, it’s never too early for Here are some things you can do with your baby:
you to get involved with your
baby. You have an important role ★ You can hold her.
to play in your baby’s life. She
★ You can talk to her.
wants to play with you and learn
★ You can sing to her.
from you. Showing your baby that
you care about her will help her. It ★ You can show her toys.
will make taking care of her more ★ You can bathe her and dress her.
fun for you and her mom. ★ You can comfort her when she’s fussy.
★ You can help teach her how to talk.
Babies learn from all the adults around them. It’s good for your baby to
★ You can take her to child care.
have someone besides her mom to learn from.
★ You can take her to health checkups.
Taking care of your baby is important and can be fun. Be very gentle ★ You can help feed the baby. If your baby’s mom is breastfeeding she can
when you play with your baby. Use a calm voice. pump some of her milk into bottles, and you can give this breast milk
to your baby. As your baby learns to eat solid food, you can feed her
with a spoon.
If you do these things for your baby, she will reward you with smiles,
happy sounds and love. She will smile when she sees you, and she will
reach for you when she wants to play. The bond you make now with your
child will last a lifetime.
You and your baby’s mom can learn more about how to care for your baby.
Look in the Yellow Pages of your phone book. There may be a “community
service” section near the front of the book. Look under “support groups”
for parenting help.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 6 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 7 Your Four-Month -Old
Questions Parents Ask Coping with Stress
Taking care of a baby may cause stress. It’s a big job. It’s normal to
have moments of sadness, fear, frustration or anger.
“Whenever my baby cries, I pick her
up. My friend says I’m spoiling her. Is my These feelings can be powerful. When you are angry, you may feel like hit-
friend right?” ting someone. You may feel like breaking things or saying hurtful things.
No, you don’t have to worry about spoiling But there are other ways to deal with strong feelings. Here are some tips:
your baby. When you pick your baby up,
you are doing the right thing. ★ The worst thing you can do is keep these feelings to yourself. Talk about
these feelings with someone you trust.
By reacting to her needs, you are teaching ★ Talk to your spouse or a family member.
your baby that she can trust you. Holding ★ Talk to a friend, a doctor or a member of the clergy.
her brings her comfort. It shows her that ★ Try to exercise. Put your baby in a stroller or in your arms, and take a
you care when she is hungry, in pain, walk. Exercise at home while your baby sleeps. Being active can make
afraid or unhappy. you feel better. Exercise can give you more energy to take care of your-
self and your baby.
Meeting your baby’s needs makes her feel safe and loved. ★ Take time to relax. Take a moment for yourself while your baby naps.
Do something that calms you down. Take a break from your chores.
It’s good to respond quickly when your baby is crying. Her needs are immedi- Take a moment to talk to a friend, read, listen to music, just be still or
ate. When your baby is hungry, she wants to be fed. When your baby is wet, enjoy a hobby.
she wants a dry diaper. When she is uncomfortable or scared, it helps her ★ Don’t take your stress out on your baby by yelling at her or avoiding her.
to be held. Get someone to help you for a while so that you can calm down or get rest.
It’s not good to ignore your baby. She depends on you to respond to her
If you want to know more about how to cope with stress or groups that
needs. She learns to trust because you respond to her needs. Your baby
help parents cope with stress, ask your doctor or clinic.
needs a lot of love from you.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 8 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 9 Your Four-Month -Old
Helping Your Baby To Fall Asleep
★ Always place the same baby-safe soft doll or stuffed animal in your baby’s
crib when it is time for sleep. She will learn to connect the stuffed toy
with falling asleep.
★ You can sing to your baby at bedtime. Put her to bed before she is com-
pletely asleep. Then stay beside her and pat her calmly. This can help
set a good pattern for going to sleep.
★ What your baby does during the day can affect her at night. If she had too
much excitement during the day, she may not sleep through the night. It
may take several days for her to get back to her usual sleeping pattern.
★ A baby in light sleep may cry out. She may move around in bed. This
may wake her up. As she cries and moves around, she gets upset. She
will settle herself if she has a way to comfort herself. She may comfort
herself by sucking her thumb or holding a blanket. Or she may get into
a comfortable position, which will also settle her down.
★ Some babies have more trouble settling down than others do. Going to
bed at the same time each night will help her settle down. Keep the
house quiet. Loud TV or music may keep your baby awake.
★ To help your baby to relax, you can give her a warm bath, massage her
or rock her. Reading or singing to her may also help her settle down.
Don’t rush to her if she starts to cry. She may calm down after a few
minutes and fall asleep on her own. If she continues to cry, pick her up.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 10 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 11 Your Four-Month -Old
What’s It Like Games You Can Play with Your Baby
To Be Four Babies learn by playing. Here are some games you can play with your
Months Old? four-month-old:
★ Play peek-a-boo. Place a sheet or baby blanket over your head, lift it
up and softly say, “Boo!” Your baby will enjoy many ways of playing
How I grow this game.
★ When I lie on my tummy, I may roll from side to side. I may even roll
over onto my back. ★ Sing simple songs to your baby. You can sing nursery rhymes, or you
can make up your own songs.
★ I may be able to sit with support.
★ I can hold my head up on my own. I can turn my head from side to side. ★ Lay your baby on her back and sing a song while you gently move
her arms in a big circle. You can also gently move her legs and raise
★ I use both hands to grab toys and other objects.
her arms.
★ When I’m in the bathtub, I like to splash in the water. I always need to
★ Slip a colorful scarf through a plastic bracelet and tie the scarf to the
be held firmly so I don’t slide into the water.
arm of a chair. Lay your baby next to the plastic ring. Your baby will
How I understand grab the ring and move the scarf around on the chair arm.
★ I may get excited when I see people I know. Sometimes I don’t like strangers. ★ After a bath, sprinkle baby powder into your hands. Do not sprinkle it
★ I like some toys better than others. directly on your baby or near her face. Instead, gently massage your
baby’s body with the powder. Talk to her or sing a song while you’re
How I talk massaging her.
★ When you talk to me, I smile and squeal and coo. ★ Put a brightly colored sock on your baby’s foot. Your baby will
★ I like to imitate sounds. I like for you to talk to me and make sounds to me. notice her foot. In time she will be able to grab it with her hands.
★ I babble now. I make lots of different sounds. Make a game out of it by helping her reach for the sock and helping
her pull it off.
★ When I am happy, I coo, squeal, gurgle, giggle, grin and laugh out loud.
How I respond
★ I like to look at myself in the mirror. Sometimes I smile at myself.
★ I like to be touched and held.
★ I may fuss if I am left alone. I get bored.
★ I may cry when you take a toy away from me. I may cry when you stop
playing with me.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 12 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 13 Your Four-Month -Old
Toy Safety Is Important
★ Make sure toys that you buy for your baby are labeled “non-toxic.” ★ Don’t give your baby toys that have small parts. The parts can come
★ Toys should have no sharp edges or points. off and she could choke on them. Check for small parts such as
buttons and eyes that are glued on. Don’t give her toys with beads
★ Inspect toys often to make sure there are no loose parts. Older toys may
that can be pulled off. Toys that are stuffed with small pellets can
break and have sharp edges.
come apart, and your baby could choke on the pellets.
★ Make sure small toys, such as squeak toys, rattles and teethers, are
★ Don’t let your baby play with a plastic bag. It can choke or
large enough so that your baby can’t put the whole toy in her mouth.
smother her.
Smaller toys can get stuck in your baby’s throat.
★ Don’t give your baby balloons to play with. The balloon can break and
★ Don’t give your baby toys with strings or ribbons. If you have toys like
create a choking hazard. Don’t give pieces of popped balloons to
this, just remove the strings.
children of any age. Babies and children can choke on balloon pieces.
★ Don’t hang toys or a pacifier around your baby’s neck.
★ Don’t let your baby play with plastic wrapping from toys or other items.
★ Older children should be told not to use loud toys around the baby.
Such loud noises can damage her hearing.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 14 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 15 Your Four-Month -Old
Helping Your Baby Explore Talking with Your Baby
By the time your baby is four months At four months of age, your baby is already putting together ideas
old, she is beginning to learn to move about speech and sounds. She does this even though she cannot speak.
around. She may even roll from her stomach
to her back. Even without speech, your baby already knows how to “talk” with you. She
“speaks” by being fussy or with happy giggles. She will learn more ways to
Your baby can sit up if you prop her up with let you know her needs, even before she learns to speak. She has learned to
pillows. She is also able to grab an object with coo and laugh.
both of her hands.
Not all sounds and gestures are for communication. Learning to make
Since she can now hold toys, your baby sounds is fun for a baby. Hearing the sounds she makes is also fun for her.
spends more time playing.
Taking turns is part of language. When your baby coos or gurgles, be sure
At this age, babies need time to explore the world around them. It is to listen to her. Then respond. Talk to your baby often. Use both familiar
important to give them time on a flat surface. Place your baby on a blan- words and sounds and new words and sounds. This will get her attention
ket on the floor. If you are outdoors, place a blanket on the ground. and hold it.
Make sure the blanket is out of the hot sun. Do not put it near objects or
insects that can hurt her. Let her wear clothing that allows her to move Babies start to learn to talk at different ages. They also learn in different
easily. Watch her very carefully. Do not walk away leaving her on the ways. Talking to your baby a lot helps her learn.
blanket, even for moment.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 16 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 17 Your Four-Month -Old
Babies Respond to Angry and Happy Faces Your Baby Learns from Experience
A baby’s social skills start to develop long before she can talk. So do her Each brain, like each child, is unique. Here are some things you
emotions. Babies quickly come to know emotions and to show them. should know about your baby:
A four-month-old baby can tell a happy face when she sees it. And she can tell ★ The brain grows fastest in the first
an angry face when she sees it. She is also aware of a face with no expression. three years of life.
★ It’s hard to describe how a child’s
If there is a lot of yelling and screaming in the house, the noise and emotion brain develops. It depends on traits
will affect your baby. that come from the parents. It also
depends on the child’s experiences.
Another step in learning social skills is that your baby will show when she You can influence the part that
is angry or sad. She’ll do this when she doesn’t get what she wants. Anger depends on experience.
and sadness are normal. Even so, you don’t want your baby to have any ★ Babies cannot see well when they are born. At four months, your baby’s
negative experiences that last a long time. Babies should have far more vision has improved. Now she may show interest in objects all the way
positive experiences than negative experiences. across the room. Show your baby bright and colorful objects. Move
them slowly to help her stay interested in them.
Always be sure to comfort your baby quickly. It does more than provide ★ A baby’s hearing develops early. Talk to your baby often. A baby can
relief. It also builds up the bond between you and your baby. remember patterns of sounds. She can remember the sounds of a story
Babies differ in how social they want to be. Some babies want almost con- that you read over and over. She can also remember the sounds of a
stant time with others. Other babies want more “alone” time. However, it song. Tell her a rhyme over and over for several days. Read her a story
can be very harmful to a baby to leave her alone too much or ignore her. over and over for several days. Or sing the same song for several days
with your baby. Watch how she responds.
You should always respond to your baby’s needs. This attention will make ★ Touching your baby gently can help to quiet her or to stimulate her. It
her happier. Her ability to think and know is tied to her emotions. Babies depends on how you do it. Massaging your baby gently can help her relax.
who feel good are more alert. They are also more attentive and responsive. ★ Your baby learns more when you respond to her needs.
They learn better. They remember better, too. ★ Most infant memories do not last long. Even so, your baby’s memory
is active.
Learning about other people starts at an early age. Relating with people also
starts early. It is a good start when your baby learns to trust and enjoy her
parents and others who take care of her.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 18 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 19 Your Four-Month -Old
Guiding Principles To Help
Your Baby Every Day
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 20 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 21 Your Four-Month -Old
Information Resources for Families
Families who are enrolled in the WIC program (Special Supplemental The American Association of Poison Control Centers’ (AAPCC) poison con-
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) can get information trol hotline, 1-800-222-1222, should be on your list of emergency numbers.
on breastfeeding, formula feeding and nutrition at their local WIC office. To learn more, you can visit the AAPCC Web site at www.aapcc.org/.
Families eligible for WIC receive nutrition counseling and supplemental
foods such as baby formula, milk and cereal. To find the WIC office nearest Families who cannot afford a car safety seat can contact the National
you, call your state health department or visit the WIC Web site at Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They can provide information on
www.fns.usda.gov/wic/. Many public libraries offer free access to the resources that help low-income families purchase or borrow child car seats.
Internet and provide help for first-time users. You may call them at 1-800-424-9393 or visit their Web site at
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/.
For information about early childhood education initiatives, you may
contact the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-USA-LEARN or visit To learn more about safety, you can call the Consumer Product Safety
the Web site at www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/teachingouryoungest/. Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or you can visit their Web site at
www.cpsc.gov/.
To learn about child care options, you may contact the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, Child Care Aware by phone at
1-800-424-2246 or visit their Web site at www.childcareaware.org/.
To learn more about free or low-cost health insurance for children, you
can call the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Insure Kids
Now program at 1-877-KIDSNOW. You can also visit their Web site at
www.insurekidsnow.gov/.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 22 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 23 Your Four-Month -Old
This pamphlet is distributed by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education
and Health and Human Services, and is in the public domain. Authorization to
reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. While permission to reprint this publica-
tion is not necessary, the citation should be: U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S.
Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Healthy Start, Grow Smart, Your Four-Month-Old, Washington, D.C., 2002.