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The 4-month-old baby smiles, babbles and becomes more interested in people than objects.At this stage, the baby begins to play with his own hands, manages to support himself on his elbows, and some, when placed face down, raise their head and shoulders. In addition, he begins to show some preference for certain types of toys, laughs and screams when stimulated. For a 4-month-old baby, everything ends up being a game, including the moments of breastfeeding, bathing or strolling.
At this stage, it is common for the baby to cough at times, which may not be caused by illnesses such as the flu or cold, but by episodes of choking with saliva or food, so it is very important for parents to be very attentive to these situations.
Baby weight at 4 months
The following table indicates the baby's ideal weight for this age, however, the weight may vary slightly, and the baby may be more or less weight.
| Boys | Girls |
Weight | 5.6 to 8.1 kg | 5.2 to 7.5 kg |
Stature | 61 to 67 cm | 58 to 64 cm |
Cephalic perimeter | 39.5 to 43.5 cm | 38.5 to 42.5 cm |
In general, babies at this stage of development maintain a pattern of weight gain of 600 g per month. If the weight is much higher than what is indicated in the table above, it is possible that you are overweight, in which case you should see your pediatrician.
Baby sleep at 4 months
The baby's sleep at 4 months during the night starts to become regular, longer and without interruptions, and can last up to 9 straight hours. However, the sleep pattern is different for each baby, with those who sleep a lot, those who sleep on naps and those who sleep little. In addition, babies may have a preference for sleeping together or alone, this is part of the personality that is developing.
In general, the period when the baby is most awake is between 3 pm and 7 pm, which is the ideal time for visits.
Baby development at 4 months
The 4-month-old baby plays with his fingers, holds small objects, turns his head in any direction and when lying on his stomach, he rests on his elbows. When he is on his back he likes to look at his hands and feet, bringing them towards his face, when he has support for his back, he can sit for a few seconds, he already follows objects with his eyes, turning his head to follow them.
They love to be on their laps and everything is a joke, they love to go undressed, take a stroller, hold a rattle and make noises. Normally, a 4-month-old baby tends to be more relaxed with his parents and more restless and playful with other family members.
At this age, they already verbalize some sounds similar to gargling, they manage to emit different sounds babbling vowels and small squeals.
In addition, during this period it is important to be aware of reactions and stimuli, as during this period it is already possible to identify some problems such as hearing problems for example. Learn how to identify if your baby is not listening well.
Check out the video to learn how to help baby development:
Baby feeding at 4 months
Feeding the 4-month-old baby should be done exclusively with breast milk. When breastfeeding is not possible, the pediatrician will make the appropriate recommendation of which formula to use, according to the family's need and availability.
The milk provided to the baby, whatever it is, is enough to nourish and moisturize the child up to 6 months of life. Thus, it is not necessary to offer the child water, teas and juices. See the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months.
In rare exceptions, the pediatrician may recommend starting food intake at 4 months.
How to avoid accidents at this stage
To avoid accidents with the baby at 4 months, parents can adopt strategies to keep him safe, such as only allowing toys for the child's age group and that have the INMETRO symbol, thus avoiding the risks of suffocation and toxicity, for example.
Other security measures that can be taken are:
- Do not leave the baby alone on the bed, changing table, sofa, or bath, to avoid the risk of falling;
- Pay attention to the paint on the crib and the walls of the house so that they do not contain lead, as the baby can lick and ingest the toxic product;
- The rattles must be made of rubber so that they do not break easily and the baby swallows the objects;
- Use protectors in all outlets that are within reach of the baby;
- Do not leave any loose threads around the house;
- Do not leave small objects within the reach of the child, such as buttons, marbles and beans.
In addition, to avoid sunburn on the baby, or allergic skin processes, the 4-month-old baby should not sunbathe or use sunscreen, it is advisable that this occurs only after the 6th month of life. Understand how to choose the sunscreen for the baby of 6 months.