Baby's 4-month checkup

At this point, your baby may be smiling, giggling, and cooing. They also grow fast. Their birth weight may have almost doubled. You will likely have many questions for your child's doctor during this visit.

You can expect your child's doctor to:

Check your child's weight, height and head circumference
Perform a physical examination of your child
Give your child the 2nd set of vaccines

Questions your baby's doctor may ask you

Is your baby already rolling over to one side?
Can your baby do push-ups on the forearms and raise his head?
Does your child have good head control when standing up?
Does your child still coo or mutter?
Does your baby react to loud noises?
Does your baby follow the object with his eyes?

Development questions you may have

When will my child sit down?
When will my baby start crawling?
My child has a lot of saliva. Are they teething?

Child development tips

Don't expect your baby to sit or crawl for at least another 2 months.
Your baby will soon learn to ride back and forth.
Your child is likely to grab things, including your hair or earrings.
Your child may also take objects in their mouth, so be careful not to choke!
Give your child a variety of textures to explore, such as a wooden spoon or a fluffy toy.
Hold the toy in front of the child so that he can reach it and take it.
Sing to your child a little every day. Your baby will love it!

Questions you may have about solid foods

Is it too early for my child to eat solid food?
Should I stop breastfeeding when my baby starts eating solid foods?

Tips for starting solids

Your child should be able to sit with support and hold their head and neck properly before you start eating solid foods. Other signals of readiness include drooling, imitating food by opening your mouth, watching you eat, and searching for food on your plate.

Try starting with iron-fortified baby rice porridge mixed with breast milk or infant formula.
Do not worry if the child eats only one or two spoons.
Be sure to use a small baby spoon because the baby's mouth is still very small.
Your child may push the spoon away with his tongue! At first it's okay.
Expect to continue breastfeeding or bottle feeding during the first year of your baby's life.

Safety questions you may have

When should I baby-proof the house?
What should I do first?

Child safety tips:

If you haven't already, start the child safety system now. Kids can develop new skills overnight!
When your child pushes with his hands, unhook the mobiles.
Continue to put the baby to sleep on his back.
Never leave a child alone on a couch or bed. Perhaps soon they will be able to leave.
Do not leave small objects nearby that a child can put in his mouth and choke.
Install safety barriers around stairs and any other unprotected areas.
Place your baby's crib at the lowest possible height.
Make sure that cleaning products and other toxic products are out of the reach of the child.

Teething questions you may have

What can relieve my baby's teething pain?

Teething tips

Teething can cause salivation and irritability and usually starts around 6 months of age.
Rubbing a child's gums with a clean finger can relieve the pain.
For pain relief, have your child chew on a clean, damp cloth that has been in the freezer for half an hour. NOTE. Be sure to supervise your child.
Perhaps now you will feel a little calmer when you begin to understand the reaction of your child. Be sure to continue to encourage your child's development by playing hide-and-seek and making different faces and sounds. See how your baby reacts.