By four months, increased motor skills and a greater sense of awareness to baby’s surroundings opens a more intentional world of discovery and connection. From rolling over to babbling and finally being able to hold onto their toys, it’s an exciting and noticeable shift from those hazy newborn days.
Milestones and skills typical in months 4-6
Refined head control
Kicking and rolling
Pre-crawling movements, like rocking back and forth
Baby “cobra pose,” pulling up on arms from tummy
Whole-hand grasping
Clapping hands
Supported sitting
Can transfer an object or toy from one hand to the other
Can bear weight in legs when held standing
Hand-eye coordination
Clearer vision, can see further distances, and has full color vision
Regular sleep patterns
Longer stretches of nighttime sleep, sometimes 6-8 hours
Babbles, squeals, and laughs
Blows bubbles or “raspberries”
May recognize own name
Can understand cause and effect
May be ready for solid foods by 6 months
While every baby develops at their own pace, it's important to be aware of any significant delays or concerns. If your baby is not reaching certain milestones within the expected timeframe, it's advisable to consult a pediatrician. Some red flags to watch out for include:
Lack of head control by 4 months
No attempt to roll over by 6 months
Limited eye contact or social interaction
No babbling or attempts at communication by 6 months
Difficulty grasping objects or bringing them to their mouth
Physical skills: your baby is getting stronger
Your baby’s refined head control helps them see more of their surroundings and builds more strength for next-level physical milestones like planking, rolling, pivoting. Many babies also start to roll intentionally from their tummy to their back during this window. While gross motor movements are exciting, fine motor skills are emerging too. Your baby will begin to develop the ability to grab and hold onto objects using their whole hand, or the “palmar grasp,” which further feeds their brain development.
Cognitive skills: your baby is also getting smarter
The more your baby can move and explore, the more they feed their brain by gathering sensory feedback to categorize. This is why babies are nicknamed “little scientists.” Through play and free time, your baby is tackling serious work and building life skills like concentration, problem solving, and understanding cause and effect.
Social, emotional, and language skills: babbles and name recognition
At 4-6 months, your baby will also show a greater interest in social interactions and “conversations.” Smiling, laughing, squealing, and babbling back to you are all part of their social, emotional, and language development. During this stage, they may also demonstrate that they recognize their own name!
Tips for supporting your baby's milestones
Provide plenty of tummy time:Tummy time is still important! It’s crucial for developing their physical skills but also builds their confidence to play independently.
Offer simple toys:Introduce toys that are child-powered rather than battery-powered. This invites them to lead their play and builds all those exciting new brain connections on how stuff works.
Engage with them:Interacting with your baby through peek-a-boo, tickling, and mirrored play can foster their social and emotional development. Also, don’t underestimate the benefits of simple inclusion in everyday chores and errands. Bonding and connecting doesn’t only happen in structured play, but from simply spending time together.
Read and talk to your baby:Reading books and talking to your baby exposes them to language and helps develop their communication skills. Choose age-appropriate books with vibrant pictures and engage in conversations about what you see.
Create a safe and stimulating environment:Ensure that your baby's surroundings are safe and free from hazards as they continue to grow more mobile. Provide opportunities for exploration and play, but don’t limit this to indoors only. Getting outside is important, too!
From physical achievements to cognitive leaps and enhanced communication skills, 4-6 months brings numerous leaps. If you have any concerns about your baby’s health and development, be sure to connect with your pediatrician.