assisting a baby’s growth at 4-5 months Your baby will enjoy playing with you as you sing songs, read books, play with toys, conduct tummy time, and make funny noises. Playing with your infant promotes mutual understanding between you two and makes the child feel safe and loved.
Baby development at 4-5 months: what’s happening
By about 5 months, your baby is starting to form a stronger attachment to you. Over the last few months, your baby has learned to know your voice, remember what you look like and understand that you respond when they need you. Your baby has also got to know other caregivers well, and understands who they are.
Your baby will turn to you when you speak, and they might even respond to their name or another sound, like a bell ringing.
Your baby is showing more emotion – blowing ‘raspberries’, squealing, making sounds like ‘ah-goo’ and even trying to copy the up-and-down tone you use when you talk. Your baby might smile and talk to themselves (and you!) in the mirror. Your baby is also starting to show emotions like anger and frustration. Instead of crying your baby might growl or whinge.
Your baby really enjoys reaching and grabbing everything – dangling rings, rattles, toys, small blocks and more. Babies can hold things in their hand using their palm and pointer finger and will often put things in their mouth.
At this age, your baby might also:
- drop something – for example, a rattle – and turn their head to look for it (but they probably won’t look down for it just yet)
- roll from back to tummy as well as from tummy to back
- sit up with support around their hips and behind their bottom and lower back
- put their fingers in their mouth and start getting interested in what you’re eating – this interest will grow over the coming weeks.
You’ll be surprised at how far your baby can roll and what they can reach, so always watch your baby. It doesn’t take long for your baby to unexpectedly roll into or reach for something that puts them in danger.
Helping baby development at 4-5 months
Here are a few simple things you can do to help your baby’s development at this age:
- Talk and listen to your baby: by doing this you’re helping baby learn about language and communication. When you talk and listen, look your baby in the eye and make facial expressions to help your baby learn the link between words and feelings.
- Play together: sing songs, read books, play with toys, do tummy time and make funny sounds together – your baby will love it! Playing together helps you and your baby get to know each other and also helps baby feel loved and secure.
- Find a routine: when it feels right for you and your baby, it can help to do things in a similar order each day – for example, feed, play, sleep. This pattern also helps your baby feel safe and secure.
- Prepare your home for a moving baby: it’s a good idea to look at how you can make your home safe for baby to move about in.
Sometimes your baby won’t want to do some of these things – for example, they might be too tired or hungry. Your baby will use special baby cues to let you know when they’ve had enough and what they need.
Crying and how to respond
Sometimes you’ll know why your baby is crying. When you respond to your baby’s crying – for example, by changing a wet nappy or feeding – your baby feels more comfortable and safe.
Sometimes you might not know why your baby is crying, but it’s still important to comfort your baby. You can’t spoil a baby by picking them up, cuddling them or talking to them in a soothing voice.
But a lot of crying might make you feel frustrated, upset or overwhelmed. It’s OK to take some time out until you feel calmer. Put your baby in a safe place like a cot, or ask someone else to hold your baby for a while. Try going to another room to breathe deeply, or call a family member or friend to talk things through.
Never shake a baby. It can cause bleeding inside the brain and likely permanent brain damage.
It’s OK to ask for help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the demands of caring for your baby, call your local Parentline. You might also like to try our ideas for dealing with anger, anxiety and stress.
Parenting a 5-month-old
Every day you and your baby will learn a little more about each other. As your baby grows and develops, you’ll learn more about what your baby needs and how you can meet these needs.
As a parent, you’re always learning. It’s OK to feel confident about what you know. And it’s also OK to admit you don’t know something and ask questions or get help.
When you’re focusing on looking after a baby, you might forget or run out of time to look after yourself. But looking after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally will help your child grow and thrive.
How do you entertain a 4-month-old baby?
Hide a toy — but don’t hide it very well — and encourage your baby to find it. Play peekaboo. Let your baby discover that actions can make things happen. Provide toys that move or make sounds when your baby plays with them, such as baby musical instruments, busy boxes, or see-through toys that show motion.
What 4 months baby can do?
Four-month-olds have pretty good head control while sitting supported, and they can hold their head and chest upright while lying on their stomach during tummy time. They also can kick and push with their feet. Some babies have even figured out how to roll from tummy to back at this point
When to be concerned about baby development
See your child and family health nurse or GP if you have any concerns or notice that your 5-month-old has any of the following issues.
Seeing, hearing and communicating
Your baby:
- is crying a lot and this is worrying you
- isn’t making eye contact with you or doesn’t follow moving objects with their eyes
- isn’t making any sounds or responding to noises.
Behaviour and learning
Your baby isn’t smiling and isn’t putting objects in their mouth.
Movement and motor skills
Your baby:
- isn’t lifting their head or has poor head control
- doesn’t reach for objects
- isn’t rolling.
If you notice that your baby no longer has some of the skills they once had, you should see a child health professional.
4 months baby activities toys
Congratulations are in order: You’ve survived the fourth trimester! Not only is your baby sleeping for longer stretches during the night (hopefully), you’re likely being rewarded with big smiles.
“Four months is the time to look for toys that encourage increased interaction between you and your baby,” says Sarah Lytle, Ph.D, executive director of Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network.
Things to consider when buying a toys for a 4-month-old
Before you purchase toys for a 4-month-old, take these factors into consideration:
Open-ended toys. The more ways you can play with a toy the better, says Dr. Lytle, as this allows baby to get creative. “When children aren’t restricted with how they play, it encourages their natural instincts to explore,” she says.
Interactive toys. At 4 months, your baby is increasingly aware of the world around him, so look for toys that naturally prompt back-and-forth interaction between you and your little one, Dr. Lytle says.
Cause-and-effect toys. Babies are starting to learn their place in the world, and toys that teach cause and effect (I do this, this happens) help them grasp that concept.
Safety. You’ll want to select toys that have no loose parts or tiny pieces that could fall off and pose a potential choking hazard. They should also be larger than your child’s mouth to prevent him from choking, per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
How we picked the best toys for 4-month-olds
There are millions of toys to choose from, which makes things tricky for any parent looking to get the most bang out of their buck. That’s why we curated the below list, factoring in the above-mentioned guidelines, suggestions from trusted children’s health experts and the recommendations of the What to Expect community. Consider these the best of the best toys for 4-month-olds.
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Best Soft Blocks for 4-Month-Olds
Baby Einstein Explore & Discover Soft Blocks Toys
Best Toys for 4-Month-Olds – Baby Einstein Explore Discover Soft Blocks Toys
Buying Options:
Amazon
$28
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Target
$15
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Amazon
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Pros: Very soft, lots of opportunity for play
Cons: A little too big for small hands
Why We Love It
With soft blocks like these, you can place one in front of baby during tummy time so he has something to reach for, pass one back and forth between you and baby to practice taking turns or show baby how to build with them (though he won’t be ready to try that solo just yet). These blocks have brightly-colored images or interesting black-and-white patterns on all sides. Plus, a few have lift-the-flaps and mirrors, while others jingle when you shake them, adding an additional sensory element to his playtime.
Recommended age: 3 months and up
Weight: 0.45 pounds
Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches (per block)
Community Reviews
“My kid loves baby Einstein Explore & Discover Soft Blocks (LOVES to knock them over).”
- linund
Best Board Book for 4-Month-Olds
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox
Best Toys for 4-Month-Olds – Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes Board Book
Buying Options:
Amazon
$9
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$7
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$7
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Amazon
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Pros: Adorable illustrations, great size, sweet rhyme
Cons: Some parents say it’s a bit heavy for their babies to hold
Why We Love It
Books are great for your baby starting day one, says Dr. Lytle. At 4 months, your baby could very well be more interested in putting the book in his mouth than actually listening to you read it. (That’s perfectly normal!)
At this age, you may want to select a book that has a thick, padded cover that’s easy to wipe down when baby is done gumming or drooling on it. The rhyming prose of this story is lovely, too, as it takes a look at how babies all over the world are similar, with sweet watercolor illustrations to match.
Recommended age: 0 to 3 years
Pages: 38
Other formats: Hardcover, paperback
Community Reviews
“Check out Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox (different babies around the world but saying they’re all the same).”
- cf2015
Best Rattle Toy for 4-Month-Olds
VTech Rattle-Pillar
Best Toys for 4-Month-Olds – VTech Rattle-Pillar
Buying Options:
Amazon
$9
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Amazon
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Pros: Easy for babies to hold, engaging
Cons: Plastic is a bit hard, requires batteries, songs may get annoying after a while
Why We Love It
Babies at 4 months are starting to understand cause and effect, says Dr. Lytle, and a rattle is a fun way to teach it to them. “They learn that if I shake this, I make a noise; it teaches them that they have power over it,” she says.
This rattle from VTech is easy for tiny hands to grasp, then when your baby shakes it, the caterpillar’s heart also lights up. In addition, the caterpillar’s legs are crinkly for tactile stimulation, and baby can fidget with the textured ring The toy also plays phrases, sounds and songs with the touch of the button. But with so much else going on, some parents say they never find the need to turn it on.
Recommended age: 3 to 24 months
Power: Requires 3 LR alkaline batteries
Weight: 4.5 ounces
Dimensions: 2 x 3.7 x 7 inches
Community Reviews
“The Vtech baby rattle and sing puppy is the first toy she smiled at. She likes when it says ruff ruff I’m a happy puppy and her reaction is adorable.”
- pepperann
Best Developmental Toy for 4-Month-Olds
Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat
Best Toys for 4-Month-Olds – Fisher-Price Sit Me Up Floor Seat
Buying Options:
Amazon
$40
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buybuyBaby
$40
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Target
$40
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Walmart
$55
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Bed Bath & Beyond
$40
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Pros: Wide leg holes for easy in and out, easy to assemble
Cons: Some parents say it was too small for their little ones
Why We Love It
Baby won’t be sitting up on his own for another few months, but that doesn’t mean he’s not eager to see the world from a different vantage point.
This Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat is less constricting than a bouncer and holds baby up in plush comfort so he can better interact with the world around him. It has two attached toys, a turtle spinner with a mirrored side and clackers to make noise with. Parents love that the seat folds flat for easy storage and that the seat cover is removable and machine washable. It also comes in a few different patterns and styles.
Recommended age: Use only with a child who is able to hold head up unassisted and who is not able to climb out or walk.
Weight limit: 25 pounds
Weight: 4.41 pounds
Dimensions: 8.27 x 10.43 x 8.66 inches
Community Reviews
“I bought one yesterday, and my son who is 8 weeks old loves it so much. He has a instant smile on his face when you put him in it.”
- khuysman
Best Moving Toy for 4-Month-Olds
Fisher-Price Play & Crawl Hedgehog Mirror
Best Toys for 4-Month-Olds – Fisher-Price Play Crawl Hedgehog
Buying Options:
Amazon
$28
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Target
$15
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Kohls
$15
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Registry List:
Amazon
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Pros: No assembly required, no batteries required
Cons: Mirror can be blurry, noisy
Why We Love It
One small push sets this adorable hedgehog rolling and the colorful beads rattling inside the wheels, encouraging baby to stay on his tummy longer and maybe start trying to push up.
With soft fabric quills, a large mirror, a bar with three colorful beads and a bat-at ladybug roller, it works equally well for stationary play, too. Meanwhile, you’ll appreciate that this toy works both fine and gross motor skills, has real wood accents and doesn’t require any batteries.
Recommended age: 3 months and up
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Dimensions: 4.33 x 8.78 x 8.5 inches
You should also see your child and family health nurse or GP if you or your partner experiences the signs of postnatal depression in birthing mothers or postnatal depression in non-birthing parents. Symptoms of postnatal depression include feeling sad and crying for no obvious reason, feeling irritable, having difficulty coping and feeling very anxious.