MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Developmental milestones record

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Developmental milestones record - 4 months

Contents of this page:
Alternative Names Definition	Information

Alternative Names

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

Definition Return to top

Infants 4 months old are expected to develop certain physical and mental skills. These skills are called milestones.

Information Return to top

PHYSICAL AND MOTOR SKILLS

The typical 4-month-old should:

Show a slowing of weight gain to approximately 20 grams per day
Demonstrate the fading of the infant reflexes (Moro reflex, asymmetric tonic neck reflex, rooting reflex, and Perez reflex)
Have almost no head lag while in a sitting position
Be able to sit up straight if propped
Raise head 90 degrees when placed on stomach
Be able to roll from front to back
Try to reach objects with hands (may commonly overshoot)
Play with rattle when it's placed in the hands, but won't be able to pick it up if dropped
Be able to grasp rattle with both hands
Be able to place objects in mouth

SENSORY AND COGNITIVE SKILLS

A 4-month-old is expected to:

Have well-established close vision
Have beginning eye-hand coordination
Be able to babble and coo
Be able to laugh out loud
Anticipate feeding when able to see a bottle (if bottle-fed)
Begin to show memory
Demand attention by fussing
Recognize parent voice or touch

PLAY

You can encourage development through 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

Update Date: 12/4/2006

Updated by: Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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