Baby developmentê at 4 months: weight, sleep and foodção

The 4-month-old baby moves his hands better, playing and grasping objects and toys better. At this stage the baby also starts to become more independent, interacting more with people.

At around 4 months, the baby is able to fix his gaze on objects and people, better recognizing parents or guardians and family members. At this stage, the baby also better recognizes people's voices, especially the mother's, which normally soothes and generates pleasure for the baby.

Baby at 4 months should be fed exclusively with breast milk and on demand, which is when the baby wants to breastfeed. However, when the mother cannot breastfeed, the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics recommends that infant formula be used, according to the pediatrician's guidelines.

It is important to remember that each baby has its own rhythm of growth, sleep, speech and play. Therefore, if there are doubts about the baby's development, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician.

Baby weight

The following table shows the ideal weight range for a 4-month-old baby, as well as other important parameters such as height and head circumference, according to the World He alth Organization:

	Boys	Girls
Weight	5.6 to 8.8 kg	5 to 8.1 kg
Stature	59, 9 to 68 cm	57, 8 to 66, 2 cm
Head circumference	40.5 to 42.8 cm	39, 3 to 41.8 cm
Monthly weight gain	600 g	600 g

If the baby presents values above or below those indicated in the table, it is advisable to consult the pediatrician to evaluate the child's development.

How does baby sleep

The sleep of a 4 month old baby still sleeps about 16 hours a day, with 6 hours during the day and 10 hours, usually in a row, at night. However, some babies may wake up 2 to 3 times during the night, due to some discomfort, such as hunger or the presence of pee or poop in the diaper.

Furthermore, some babies still do not have a regular long sleep routine, being able to “change day for night”. For this, some recommendations that help create a nighttime sleep routine are:

• If you wake up too early, leave the baby a little longer in the crib so that it sleeps a little longer;
• Keep low lighting in the room;
• Avoid noises around the house so as not to wake the baby.

In addition, it is also important to try to maintain the same routine before bed so that the baby gets used to the sleep schedule, which should last around 10 hours straight a night. Find out how long your baby's sleep should last.

Baby Feeding

The recommendation of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics is that the baby at 4 months be fed exclusively with breast milk and on demand, which is when the baby wants to.

Breast milk contains all the nutrients and water a baby needs to grow and develop. Therefore, the recommendation is that breastfeeding be exclusive up to 6 months and, when possible, that breast milk complements the child's diet up to 2 years or more. See all the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for your baby.

However, when the mother cannot breastfeed, the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics recommends the use of infant formula, where the pediatrician should recommend the type and amount of formula.

The baby who is fed with infant formula should also drink 700 ml of filtered or boiled water a day, considering the water used in the preparation of infant formula and the pure water, which should be given throughout the day, to avoid straining the kidneys or constipation.

Baby development

The 4-month-old baby already has better hand control, playing and grasping objects better and bringing them to his mouth. At this stage the baby also starts to become more independent, interacting more with people with a smile or babbling some sounds.

At 4 months, the baby can already fix his gaze on objects and people, better recognizing the parents, or guardians, and family members and following them with his eyes and head. At this stage, the baby also better recognizes people's voices, especially the mother's, which normally calms and generates joy in the child.

In addition, during this period it is important to be aware of the baby's reactions to stimuli, because in this period it is already possible to identify some situations, such as hearing difficulties, for example. Learn how to identify if the baby hears well.

When to vaccinate the baby

It is important that a 4-month-old baby receives some vaccines that are included in the national vaccination schedule, such as:

• Second dose of VORH, against Rotavirus;
• Second dose of Pentavalent/DTP, against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis;
• Second dose of VIP, against Poliomyelitis.

In addition, the baby at 4 months also receives the second dose of Pneumococcal 10, which protects against pneumonia, otitis, meningitis and other diseases caused by the pneumococcus bacteria. See the vaccination schedule for each baby's age.

4 month old baby toys

Playing with a 4-month-old baby is essential, as it stimulates curiosity, sensitivity and the development of the child's vision and hearing. Some simple games for babies at this age are:

• Take the baby to the door or window of the house so she can see people, animals and objects moving around, saying the names and making sounds of each one to the child;
• Put the baby sitting on a mat, supported by pillows and show him books or toys, letting him hold the objects with both hands, while talking and smiling at him;
• With the baby on your lap, leave him in front of the mirror, showing and explaining the parts of the body, to help him develop his vision and gradually perceive his own image.

In addition, a 4-month-old baby can also go for walks in open places such as parks or squares, but the walks must be done before 10:00 or after 16:00. However, it is not recommended to expose the baby at 4 months of age directly to the sun, just as you should not apply sunscreen or sunscreen at this stage, and the use of umbrellas, hats and protective clothing is recommended.