Your Baby’s Tendencies and Patterns in Month Four

Baby’s all have certain tendencies and patterns they develop by month four of life.  While it is interesting, even important, to be aware of these propensities and inclinations please be aware that all babies develop at different rates.  So, if your baby’s actions and habits are not specific to what we outline here, don’t be troubled.

In month four, your baby will begin to reach for objects.  He or she can also follow moving objects by sighting and will begin to look around at all the wondrous things and people nearby.  Your baby will most likely begin smiling at people who he or she sees often.  Your child’s first eye exam should occur at six months of age.

At month four, many parents begin to run into problems with diaper rash.  Once diaper rash begins, it is difficult to eliminate entirely.  The main cause is usually from bacteria.  When this bacteria comes into contact with urine it creates ammonia, which irritates your baby’s skin and causes a rash.  For this reason it is always important to change your baby’s diapers in a timely fashion.  Disposable diapers are not less likely to cause diaper rash than cloth diapers.

The best way to handle diaper rash, once it has begun, is to carefully clean your baby’s skin every time you change his or her diapers.  Keep your baby’s skin as dry as possible, always being attentive to change wet diapers.  Use creams and ointments to make a protective barrier for your baby’s skin.  If your baby develops a thick, persistent diaper rash consult your doctor.

In month four, you might find that your baby has problems when it comes to settling for sleep.  This is not uncommon, although it can drive a parent to distraction.  In order to help baby get to sleep more easily, you might try a warm bath, gently patting or rubbing baby’s back and bottom, rocking, an additional feeding, soothing music, singing a lullaby, a ticking clock, making the room darker, or reading a bedtime story.  Unfortunately, there is no magic potion or incantation to get your baby to sleep.  You may have to try various combinations of these techniques, along with anything else suggested to you, until you come up with a settling routine that works for your baby.

During month four there is no hard and fast rule for how much your baby should be sleeping.  Some baby’s will put in marathon twelve-hour sleep stretches at night with naps during daytime.  Other babies might sleep for eight hours during the night and have longer or more frequent rests during the day.  Some babies will sleep in three or four hour spurts throughout the day.  Babies generally sleep according to their own needs.  At this age you should, however, begin equating nighttime with sleep time.  You can do this by avoiding rigorous play for several hours before bedtime and making sleepy time a time for gentle settling.  As was stated at the beginning of this piece, all babies develop differently in month four and your baby will find his or her own rate of progress and process of comfort.