What's Your 4-Month-Old Baby Up To?

Motor skills. Laughter. Rolling over. This month is filled with exciting times for your 4-month-old. Let’s nourish their curiosity in every way.

Your baby’s development at 4 months old

• Plays with toys
• Rolls over
• Learns how to laugh

4-month-old development: Playing with toys

New visual skills show up this month. Your sweet little one might delight in learning that objects come in different shapes, sizes, colours, and textures. Or stare more often, taking in the newfound things around them. When sitting on your lap, they may notice objects several feet away. This is a great example of how your child’s developing vision expands their interests.

You can stimulate your baby’s senses by giving them soft toys. To help develop a sense of smell, let your child smell a piece of fruit or play music for them to boost their auditory processing skills.

4-month-old development: Rolling over

Your baby's brain has been busy sharpening motor skills like kicking, swatting, grabbing, and rattling. All of these require dexterity, memory, and a longer attention span. Actually, for both of you.

Around 4 months old, motor skill development takes off. One clear example is the act of rolling over. Some babies roll over as early as 3 months. Others wait until they begin to sit and crawl. When your baby rocks back and forth on their stomach, kicks their legs, and “swims” with their arms, they’re about to roll over. And once they start, there's no stopping them. Just go with it. But be careful on the changing table and other high surfaces. Babies are quicker than you think.

4-month-old development: Learning how to laugh

What could be better than the sound of your baby's laughter, except maybe hearing it again? Making your baby laugh is one of the simple joys of parenthood. Try making funny faces, goofy grins, and blowing on your baby’s belly. Or see if a little gentle tickling will do the trick.