Milestones matter! How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts and moves offers important clues about their development.

This is a general guide to infants from two to four months of age. Remember, each child is unique and will grow and develop at their own pace. It is normal for a child to be behind in some areas and ahead in others. For babies born prematurely, milestones are based on their corrected age (your baby’s actual age minus the number of weeks or months they were born early).

Babies can’t be spoiled — so feel free to play, cuddle and respond to all your baby’s cues and cries. You can help your baby learn and grow.

• Social and Emotional
• Language and Communication
• Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving
• Movement and Physical Development
• You Know Your Child Best

Social and Emotional

Your baby is increasingly aware of the people around them and will try to get your attention. When you consistently respond to your baby’s cries and smiles, you help them develop trust and self-confidence.

By four months, your baby is getting more interactive. They may:

• begin to smile at people
• be able to calm themselves by sucking on hands
• look for a parent
• enjoy playing with people
• show excitement by waving arms and legs

You can help your baby learn by: 

• Responding to your baby’s cries babbles and coos. When you consistently respond to your baby you help build your relationship with your baby.
• Cuddling, talking, and playing with your baby when they are being feed, dressed, and bathed.
• Holding and talking to your baby; smile and be cheerful while you do.
• Playing games like Peekaboo, This Little Piggy Went to Market and Pat-a-Cake with baby.
• Getting your baby to copy your expressions. Try giving a large smile or sticking out your tongue and give your baby time to imitate you. You can also try imitating your baby.
• Setting a regular schedule. Also, help your baby get into a routine, such as sleeping more at night than during the day.

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Language and Communication

This is where communication really starts to take off. You may start to notice that your baby actually has different cries for when they are hungry, in pain or tired. In this way, your baby can tell you what they need. Your baby will like to make sounds and have you copy them back as a conversation.

By four months, your baby is beginning to find their voice and may:

• start to babble, laugh and squeal
• copy sounds
• have different cries to let you know that they are hungry, in pain or are tired

You can help your baby learn by:

• Talking, reading and singing to your baby throughout the day
• Have “conversations” with your baby by replying to their babbles. Repeat the sound and wait them to make another.
• Describe your baby’s actions to them. For example, if your baby reaches for something say “You are reaching for your teddy bear. Do you want that bear?”

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Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving

Your baby is learning all the time. They are beginning to understand cause and effect – if your baby swats a toy on the infant gym, they will start to expect it to make a noise.

By four months, your baby is already figuring things out and may:

• be more awake and more curious about people and surroundings
• start to explore objects and toys with their eyes, hands and mouth
• reach for toys that they want
• recognize familiar people and things at a distance

You can help your baby learn by: 

• Encouraging play by offering toys with different colours, shapes, sizes, textures and sounds.
• Using an infant gym with objects that your baby can swat at.
• Holding a toy just out of baby’s reach for baby to reach, swat at and grab.
• Understanding that if your baby becomes fussy, squirmy or starts to cry, your baby may be telling you that they need a break.

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Movement and Physical Development

Babies develop so fast. They gain strength starting from the head and moving down their bodies. At first, they need their parents for everything, but as they develop, they learn to roll over and reach for things they want.

By four months, your baby is already figuring things out and may:

• hold their head steady, unsupported
• stretch and kick their legs to strengthen leg muscles, which prepares them for rolling over
• sit up with support
• roll from tummy to back
• bring hands to mouth
• bat at or grasp toys
• push down on legs when feet are on a hard surface

You can help your baby learn by: 

• Giving them tummy-time to help strengthen their neck, arms and shoulders.
• Once your baby can hold up their head, helping them practice sitting by propping them using your body, pillows or a supportive seat.

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You Know Your Child Best

Act early if you have concerns about the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts or moves, or if your child:

• is missing milestones
• doesn’t watch things as they move
• doesn’t smile at people
• can’t hold their head steady
• doesn’t coo or make sounds
• doesn’t bring things to mouth
• doesn’t push down with legs when feet are placed on a hard surface
• has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions

Tell your child’s doctor or nurse if you notice any of these signs of possible developmental delay and ask for a developmental screening. Don’t wait. Acting early can make a real difference.

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For more information 

• Your child’s development: What to expect – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Read, Speak, sing to your baby: How parents can promote literacy from birth – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Attachment: A connection for life – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Your baby’s brain: How parents can support healthy development, Canadian Paediatric Society
• 24-hour movement guidelines for the early years: Ages 0-4 – Participaction
• Activities for babies and toddlers – Active for Life

References

• Caring for Kids – Information for Parents from Canada’s Paediatricians
• Developmental Milestones – Centre for Disease Control and Prevention