Month 4: Many babies feel like lively little explorers now – they laugh out loud, grab at toys and your hair, study their hands in deep concentration, and may roll or wriggle with surprising strength before suddenly needing a cosy break and a feed.

• By month 4 many babies still have milk as their main food and often feed quite frequently, so parents are often encouraged to follow early hunger cues like rooting, stirring, and hand-sucking rather than watching the clock.
• Feeds at this age can look more organised, with babies usually latching more quickly, sucking in a steady rhythm, and then pulling off to look around or smile before returning to finish when they are ready.
• Wet nappies across the day, soft poos, and regular contact with a midwife, health visitor, paediatrician or family doctor are commonly used together to keep an eye on how feeding is going; contact them if you are worried about feeds, weight gain, or nappies.

• At around four months many babies still sleep for many hours spread over 24 hours, but more of their wide-awake time often falls in the daytime, while nights may start to include one or two longer stretches alongside shorter ones.
• Parents are often advised to keep placing their baby on their back in a clear, flat sleep space in the same room as an adult, keeping pillows, duvets, soft toys, and loose bedding away from the face and keeping the room smoke-free.
• Some families find it helpful to keep naps and bedtime linked to simple, repeated steps – such as a short wind-down, dimmer lights, and quiet voices – while still being flexible around changes in feeds, growth spurts, and more active days.

• By month 4 many babies have a fairly familiar toileting pattern, with regular wet nappies and soft poos that may be mustard yellow, brown, or slightly green, and parents often notice straight away if that pattern suddenly changes.
• Some babies poo several times a day, while others poo less often but in bigger amounts, and it is common for babies to pull funny concentration faces, grunt, or go quiet when they are working on a poo, even if the poo itself is soft.
• Contact your midwife, health visitor, paediatrician or local emergency service if wet or dirty nappies suddenly become very rare, or if you notice very pale poo, blood, very hard poos, or other changes that worry you.

• Around four months many babies are busy practising head and upper body control, so short, watched tummy time sessions on a firm surface or on your chest can help them push up on their forearms and look around the room.
• A few times a day, for a few minutes when your baby is calm and awake, you might chat in simple sentences, copy their coos, sing the same short song, or let them explore one or two safe toys, giving them a chance to grab, shake, and mouth them.
• It is common for babies at this age to enjoy bright but simple picture books, gentle music, and games where you repeat the same sounds or actions; keeping these playtimes short and relaxed lets them enjoy learning without becoming overwhelmed.

Sources

• NHS – Your baby at 3 to 4 months
• HealthyChildren.org (AAP) – Infant Development: Birth to 3 Months
• Mayo Clinic – Infant development: 3 to 4 months

This content is general information only and is not medical advice. If you are worried about your baby, contact your midwife, health visitor, paediatrician, or local emergency service.