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Congrats on your baby reaching 4 months!

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Congrats on your baby reaching 4 months!

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You successfully helped them develop past this stage. As they get older, you will see even more changes as they continue to grow and develop.

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Sleeping

Your baby will sleep approximately 12-16 hours a day, and may begin to sleep through the night.

You should not let your baby sleep on their stomach. This increases the risk of SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

If their sleep patterns are causing you concern or problems, talk to your community health nurse.

Playing

Your baby likes colourful toys that they can swing at with their hands.

They can hold and shake hand toys, such as rattles

They now like to kick their legs and move their arms

It is important that you give your baby time on their stomach, even if they start crying. This will help develop the muscles in their neck for head support, and will encourage crawling in later months

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Feed your baby often. Your baby needs the fuel to grow.

Quietly speak to your baby.

Gently massage your baby's arms and legs.

Swaddle and cradle your baby in your arms.

Bicycle your baby's legs.

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Your baby will cry when they are faced with something they dislike.

Sucking is a method that your baby will use for pleasure and for releasing tension.

Please respond to your baby's needs, they will feel safe when you do.

Your baby will cry when they need something, whether they are hungry, tired, wet, hot, cold or lonely. Often your baby will cry just to listen to themselves.

When they cry, do not shake your baby. Shaking will cause brain damage, blindness, paralysis or in extreme cases death.

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Your baby learns about sexuality everyday. It is an awareness of themselves as male or female.

When you cuddle your baby, they learn about love and trust.

Make sure you use the correct name of all of your baby's body parts. They need to hear the terms to learn.

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Hearing

They will now begin to react to sounds, and they may stop moving when a new sound is heard.

Your baby loves the sound of your voice, and begins to quiet down when people are having a conversation.

Singing, crooning and humming will help to soothe your baby.

Vision

Your baby's eyes can now follow moving objects in all directions.

At 2 months, they begin to see distant objects. By 4 months, your baby can now see a long distance just like you.

They like to look at spiral patterns and circles, as well as faces.

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During this period of growth, crying will be a sign. Your baby will cry to tell you when they are hungry, tired, uncomfortable or in pain. Different cries mean different emotions. Remember to be patient as you learn to understand one another.

Your baby will sigh, coo, laugh and gurgle when talked to but cry when they hear an angry voice.

However, if your baby does not react to sounds or like to be cuddled, take your baby to a speech-pathologist.

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At this age, your baby will be able to lift and support their head while they are sitting down or lying on their stomach. However, you still need to support their head when you pick them up or carry them.

Your baby will also begin to reach for and grasp objects. They like to put their hands in their mouth due to the high number of sensory receptors.

They will begin to straighten their knees and put pressure on their legs when you support them on their feet.

They may be able to kick their legs, and because of this they might be able to roll over unassisted.

Your baby will also be able to pull away from anything that hurts them.

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Your baby will grow rapidly and gain an exponential 450 to 1000 grams. A whopping 1 to 2 pounds a month.

The soft spot on your baby's head will still be soft. However, the spot located in the rear of your baby's head is now closed.

Be careful! Do not let your baby sleep with a bottle of juice, sweetened water or milk, the sugar will damage your baby's teeth. A soother or a bottle of unsweetened water would be best.

Carefully wipe your baby's mouth and gums everyday.

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It is important to be responsive to your baby in order to help them develop properly, and the most important thing is to be warm and loving with your baby. Outlined here are some of the changes your baby undergoes through this stage of life, and some of their developmental milestones. It is also important to take care of yourself and be as positive and happy as possible.