Your Four-Month -Old

Healthy Start, Grow Smart

Your Four-Month -Old

Healthy Start, Grow Smart
Pr

U.S. Depart

U.S. Depart

U.S. Department of 

Health

Grow 

Your Fou
Here’s What’s Insi

Your Baby Is Four Months Old . . 

Feeding Your Baby . . . . . . . . . . Taking Care of Your Baby’s Gums Your Baby’s Four-Month Checkup 

Dads Are Important . . . . . . . . . . Questions Parents Ask . . . . . . . . Coping with Stress . . . . . . . . . . Helping Your Baby To Fall Asleep 

What’s It Like To Be Four Months 

Games You Can Play with Your Ba

Toy Safety Is Important . . . . . . . Helping Your Baby Explore . . . . 

Talking with Your Baby . . . . . . . Babies Respond to Angry and HapYour Baby Learns from Experienc

Guiding Principles To Help Your BInformation Resources for Familie

AcknowledgmentsThis publication was an initiative of Laura Bush as the First Lady of Texasand sponsored by the Texas Department of Health. President Bush and Mrs.Bush have asked that this series of booklets be revised and distributed bythe U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Education and theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services.We would like to thank the Texas Department of Health for their cooperation and assistance in bringing this publication to families across the

United States. In addition, we recognize the contributions that Susan H.Landry, Ph.D., Craig T. Ramey, Ph.D. and many other individuals made inthe development of this magazine.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 

Your Baby Is Four 

reaching for things and putting thabout them. When she is feeding, she stops another people in the room. She may try to roll over. The morShe smiles when she sees her pareShe may frown when she sees strayour words as she makes sounds.She may start sleeping at night fowill love it when you sit on the floof fun with your baby at this age.The more you help her explore, thhappy sounds and love. You can hand talking to her. Enjoy your ba
Mix some infant cereal with breas

instead of breast milk. Don’t use cother liquid. Hold your baby in a on the floor (Be sure she is strappspoon to feed solid foods to your bSee if your baby will take half of a away or cries, she’s not ready. Try When she is ready, she will take smaround in her mouth or feel it repis part of learning, so just have fuor infant formula provides all the Give your baby only one new food the foods causes allergic reactionschoice. If one of these types of ceor get a rash. She may also have or go to your clinic. 

Healthy Start, Grow Smart 2 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 

Feeding Your Baby

Make sure your baby is ready for solid food before

you give it to her. Don’t rushher into eating solid food. Somebabies are ready for it at fourmonths. Some babies aren’t

ready until they are older. Your baby’s weight or age alone does not determineher readiness for solid food. Here are some signs to look for that will tell you if your baby is ready to try solid food:

★ She holds her head steady and sits with support.★ She reaches for and shows interest in food.★ She opens her mouth when she sees food.★ She no longer thrusts her tongue out during feeding, so she’s able to

keep food in her mouth and swallow it.

★ She turns her head away when she’s full.

Most babies are ready for baby cereal when they’re between four and sixmonths of age. Ask your doctor about the best time to start your baby onsolid food. Rice, oatmeal or barley cereals are OK if they are finely ground.Use them one at a time.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 4 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 

Taking Care of Your Baby’s Gums and Future Teeth

It’s never too early to starttaking care of your baby’s futureteeth. Here are some simple thingsyou can do for her:★ Never put your baby to sleep with a

bottle.

★ Once a day, gently wipe her gums with a wet, clean soft cloth. Start

doing this even before her teeth come in.

★ Some babies show teeth as early as four or five months. Most babies

show teeth between six and eight months.

★ When her teeth begin to show, you may use a soft toothbrush for cleaning.

Make sure it is baby-sized. Or you can continue to clean her teeth everyday with a cloth.

★ Gently brush her teeth with water only. Toothpaste is not needed until

your baby is around three years old. She should be old enough to spitout the toothpaste after brushing.

Your Baby’s Four-M

Youche

she’s healweig

You

doctshoutheskeep heal

The doctor will also make s

should. The doctor will ask you if ask if your baby smiles and coos.

Before the checkup, write do

Bring the questions with you to thquestions you have about your babnurse questions like, “What are the cold? How should I treat her if she 

I call you for? What temperature sh

Always ask the nurse or doc

results. It’s a good idea to keep thdoctor tells you to give your baby the medicines and directions. Usinyour baby’s health and developmesix-month checkup.

Your baby may get her first 

explores her world and plays with more contact with germs. If you dtoms, call your doctor or clinic. T

see a doctor.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 6 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 

Here are some things you can do 

★ You can hold her.★ You can talk to her.★ You can sing to her.★ You can show her toys.★ You can bathe her and dress he★ You can comfort her when she★ You can help teach her how to ★ You can take her to child care.★ You can take her to health che★ You can help feed the baby. If y

pump some of her milk into boto your baby. As your baby learwith a spoon.

Dads Are Important

Dad, it’s never too early foryou to get involved with your

baby. You have an important roleto play in your baby’s life. Shewants to play with you and learnfrom you. Showing your baby thatyou care about her will help her. Itwill make taking care of her morefun for you and her mom. 

Babies learn from all the adults around them. It’s good for your baby tohave someone besides her mom to learn from.Taking care of your baby is important and can be fun. Be very gentlewhen you play with your baby. Use a calm voice.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 willreach for you when she wants to play. The bond you make now with yourchild 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 “communityservice” section near the front of the book. Look under “support groups”for parenting help. 
Questions Parents Ask

“Whenever my baby cries, I pick her

up. My friend says I’m spoiling her. Is myfriend right?”No, you don’t have to worry about spoilingyour baby. When you pick your baby up,you are doing the right thing. By reacting to her needs, you are teachingyour baby that she can trust you. Holdingher brings her comfort. It shows her thatyou care when she is hungry, in pain,afraid or unhappy. 

Meeting your baby’s needs makes her feel safe and loved. It’s good to respond quickly when your baby is crying. Her needs are immediate. When your baby is hungry, she wants to be fed. When your baby is wet,she wants a dry diaper. When she is uncomfortable or scared, it helps herto be held.It’s not good to ignore your baby. She depends on you to respond to herneeds. She learns to trust because you respond to her needs. Your babyneeds a lot of love from you. 

Healthy Start, Grow Smart 8 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 

Coping with StressTaking care of a baby may chave moments of sadness, fear, fruThese feelings can be powerful. Wting someone. You may feel like bBut there are other ways to deal w

★ The worst thing you can do is k

these feelings with someone yo

★ Talk to your spouse or a family 

★ Talk to a friend, a doctor or a m

★ Try to exercise. Put your baby 

walk. Exercise at home while you feel better. Exercise can gself and your baby.

★ Take time to relax. Take a mom

Do something that calms you Take a moment to talk to a frienjoy a hobby. 

★ Don’t take your stress out on yo

Get someone to help you for a w

If you want to know more about hhelp parents cope with stress, ask 
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 10 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 

Helping Your Baby To Fall AsleepMany four-month-old babies sleep through the night. They go

between deep and light sleep several times.

★ 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. Shewill settle herself if she has a way to comfort herself. She may comfortherself by sucking her thumb or holding a blanket. Or she may get intoa 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 thehouse 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 fewminutes and fall asleep on her own. If she continues to cry, pick her up. 

★ Always place the same baby-saf

crib when it is time for sleep. Swith falling asleep. 

★ You can sing to your baby at be

pletely asleep. Then stay besidset a good pattern for going to 

★ What your baby does during th

much excitement during the damay take several days for her to 
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 12 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 

What’s It Like To Be FourMonths Old?

How I grow

★ When I lie on my tummy, I may roll from side to side. I may even roll

over onto my back.

★ 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.★ I use both hands to grab toys and other objects.★ When I’m in the bathtub, I like to splash in the water. I always need to

be held firmly so I don’t slide into the water.

How I understand 

★ I may get excited when I see people I know. Sometimes I don’t like strangers.★ I like some toys better than others. 

How I talk

★ When you talk to me, I smile and squeal and coo.★ I like to imitate sounds. I like for you to talk to me and make sounds to me.★ I babble now. I make lots of different sounds.★ 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.

Games You Can PlBabies learn by playing. Here four-month-old:

★ Play peek-a-boo. Place a sheet 

up and softly say, “Boo!” Your this game.

★ Sing simple songs to your baby

can make up your own songs.

★ Lay your baby on her back an

her arms in a big circle. You her arms.

★ Slip a colorful scarf through a 

arm of a chair. Lay your baby ngrab the ring and move the sca

★ After a bath, sprinkle baby pow

directly on your baby or near hbaby’s body with the powder. Tmassaging her.

★ Put a brightly colored sock on 

notice her foot. In time she wMake a game out of it by helpher pull it off.
Toy Safety Is Important

Babies put things into their mouths. So it is important to

make sure all toys you give yourbaby are safe. Here are a fewthings to look for when choosingtoys:

★ Make sure toys that you buy for your baby are labeled “non-toxic.”★ Toys should have no sharp edges or points.

★ Inspect toys often to make sure there are no loose parts. Older toys may

break and have sharp edges.

★ Make sure small toys, such as squeak toys, rattles and teethers, are

large enough so that your baby can’t put the whole toy in her mouth.Smaller toys can get stuck in your baby’s throat.

★ Don’t give your baby toys with strings or ribbons. If you have toys like

this, just remove the strings.

★ Don’t hang toys or a pacifier around your baby’s neck.

Healthy Start, Grow Smart 14 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 

★ Don’t give your baby toys that 

off and she could choke on thebuttons and eyes that are glued that can be pulled off. Toys thacome apart, and your baby cou

★ Don’t let your baby play with a 

smother her. 

★ Don’t give your baby balloons t

create a choking hazard. Don’t children of any age. Babies and 

★ Don’t let your baby play with pl★ Older children should be told n

Such loud noises can damage h
Talking with You

At four months of age, your b

about speech and sounds. She doeEven without speech, your baby a“speaks” by being fussy or with halet you know her needs, even befocoo and laugh.Not all sounds and gestures are fosounds is fun for a baby. Hearing Taking turns is part of language. Wto listen to her. Then respond. Talwords and sounds and new words and hold it. Babies start to learn to talk at diffways. Talking to your baby a lot h

Healthy Start, Grow Smart 16 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 

Helping Your Baby Explore

By the time your baby is four months old, she is beginning to learn to move

around. She may even roll from her stomachto her back.Your baby can sit up if you prop her up withpillows. She is also able to grab an object withboth of her hands.Since she can now hold toys, your babyspends more time playing.

At this age, babies need time to explore the world around them. It isimportant to give them time on a flat surface. Place your baby on a blanket on the floor. If you are outdoors, place a blanket on the ground.Make sure the blanket is out of the hot sun. Do not put it near objects orinsects that can hurt her. Let her wear clothing that allows her to moveeasily. Watch her very carefully. Do not walk away leaving her on theblanket, even for moment.

Here are some activities to try: ★ Place toys just out of reach so your baby will reach for them. She will

learn that she has to wiggle and reach to get the toys. If she can’t reacha toy in a few seconds, place it within her reach so she doesn’t get frustrated.

★ Spread a cloth on the grass and lay your baby on her stomach at one

edge of the cloth. Gently raise the edge of the cloth so she will rollonto her back. Reward her with a hug and a kiss.

★ Place an unbreakable mirror next to your baby’s blanket so she can

look at herself. Make sure the mirror cannot fall and break.
Babies Respond to Angry and Happy Faces

A baby’s social skills start to develop long before she can talk. So do her

emotions. Babies quickly come to know emotions and to show them. A four-month-old baby can tell a happy face when she sees it. And she can tellan angry face when she sees it. She is also aware of a face with no expression. If there is a lot of yelling and screaming in the house, the noise and emotionwill affect your baby. Another step in learning social skills is that your baby will show when sheis angry or sad. She’ll do this when she doesn’t get what she wants. Angerand sadness are normal. Even so, you don’t want your baby to have anynegative experiences that last a long time. Babies should have far more positive experiences than negative experiences.Always be sure to comfort your baby quickly. It does more than providerelief. It also builds up the bond between you and your baby. Babies differ in how social they want to be. Some babies want almost constant time with others. Other babies want more “alone” time. However, itcan be very harmful to a baby to leave her alone too much or ignore her.You should always respond to your baby’s needs. This attention will makeher happier. Her ability to think and know is tied to her emotions. Babieswho feel good are more alert. They are also more attentive and responsive.They learn better. They remember better, too. Learning about other people starts at an early age. Relating with people alsostarts early. It is a good start when your baby learns to trust and enjoy herparents and others who take care of her. 

Healthy Start, Grow Smart 18 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 

Your Baby Learns fEach brain, like each childshould know about your baby:

★ Babies cannot see well when th

vision has improved. Now she across the room. Show your bathem slowly to help her stay in

★ A baby’s hearing develops early

remember patterns of sounds. that you read over and over. Shsong. Tell her a rhyme over anover and over for several days. with your baby. Watch how she 

★ Touching your baby gently can 

depends on how you do it. Mas

★ Your baby learns more when yo★ Most infant memories do not 

is active.
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 20 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 

Guiding Principles To Help Your Baby Every Day

Here are some important things you

can do that will help your baby every day:★ Be your baby’s teacher. Babies learn

when they have many good experienceswith someone who loves them. Giveyour baby a rattle. Say, “Shake, shake,”as you move it and make sounds together. Name things for your baby. Forexample, say, “Look at the tree. Let’s situnder the tree.” This helps your babydevelop language.

★ Encourage your baby to explore. Your baby is at an age when she likes to

be held up to look at things. Looking at things is important for her.Look at something together, and move it around. Your baby now is holding on to things and putting them into her mouth. This helps herexplore. It also helps her develop movement skills. Find things she canplay with like unbreakable spoons or plastic cups, and get down on thefloor and play with her.

★ Get excited about your child. Show your excitement when she does

something. Make sure you act immediately. Your baby will connect yourpleasure with what she has just done. For example, when your baby sitsup as you hold her, say, “Look at you! You are sitting up!”

★ Repeat things with your baby. B

and over. Your baby may learn and talking with you.

★ Communicate. Talk and sing to 

language since birth. Talking t

★ Do not treat your baby harshly★ Babies do not know right from ★ They should not be punished.★ They should not be teased in a ★ Never shake or hit your baby. 

your baby. This can cause injur
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 22 Your Four-Month -Old Healthy Start, Grow Smart 

Information Resources for FamiliesFamilies who are enrolled in the WIC program (Special SupplementalNutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) can get informationon breastfeeding, formula feeding and nutrition at their local WIC office.Families eligible for WIC receive nutrition counseling and supplementalfoods such as baby formula, milk and cereal. To find the WIC office nearestyou, call your state health department or visit the WIC Web site atwww.fns.usda.gov/wic/. Many public libraries offer free access to theInternet and provide help for first-time users.For information about early childhood education initiatives, you may contact the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-USA-LEARN or visitthe Web site at www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/teachingouryoungest/.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/.For more information and resources on postpartum depression, breastfeeding and many other women’s health issues call The NationalWomen’s Health Information Center (NWHIC) at 1-800-994-9662 (1-800-994-WOMAN). You can visit their Web site at www.4woman.org/.To learn more about breastfeeding, you may call La Leche League at 

1-800-LALECHE or visit their Web site at www.lalecheleague.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 KidsNow program at 1-877-KIDSNOW. You can also visit their Web site atwww.insurekidsnow.gov/. 

The American Association of Poisotrol hotline, 1-800-222-1222, shouTo learn more, you can visit the AFamilies who cannot afford a car sHighway Traffic Safety Administraresources that help low-income faYou may call them at 1-800-424-9www.nhtsa.dot.gov/.To learn more about safety, you caCommission at 1-800-638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov/. 
Healthy Start, Grow Smart 24 Your Four-Month -Old

Coming Next Month

Is Your Baby Teething?

Your Baby’s Sleep

Stimulating Your Baby with Toys

Interacting and Playing

...and much more!

This pamphlet is distributed by the U.Sand Health and Human Services, and reproduce it in whole or in part is grantion is not necessary, the citation shouDepartment of Education and U.S. DepHealthy Start, Grow Smart, Your Fou

To order copies of this publication,

write to: ED Pubs, Education PublicaP.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-139or fax your request to: 301-470-1244or e-mail your request to: edpubs@inor call in your request toll-free: 1-877service is not yet available in your areThose who use a telecommunications (TTY), should call 1-800-437-0833.or order online at: www.ed.gov/pubs/This publication is available to downlsite at: www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/earlyable in Spanish on the Department of On request, this publication is availabprint, audiotape or computer disketteDepartment’s Alternate Format Cente