4 Months Developmental Milestones
By 4 months, babies are more expressive and interactive — babbling, copying faces, and reaching for toys. Here are the milestones most babies reach by 4 months.
What most children do by 4 Months
- Smiles spontaneously, especially at people
- Likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops
- Copies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling or frowning
- Begins to babble
- Babbles with expression and copies sounds he hears
- Cries in different ways to show hunger, pain, or being tired
- Lets you know if she is happy or sad
- Responds to affection
- Reaches for toy with one hand
- Uses hands and eyes together, such as seeing a toy and reaching for it
- Follows moving things with eyes from side to side
- Watches faces closely
- Recognizes familiar people and things at a distance
- Holds head steady, unsupported
- Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface
- May be able to roll over from tummy to back
- Can hold a toy and shake it and swing at dangling toys
- Brings hands to mouth
- When lying on stomach, pushes up to elbows
Talk to your doctor right away if your child:
- Loses skills they once had (for example, words or social smiles)
- Doesn't respond to their name or make eye contact
- Isn't babbling, pointing, or using gestures by 12 months
- Isn't saying single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by 24 months
- Has trouble with feeding, swallowing, or muscle stiffness/floppiness
Trust your instincts — you know your child best. Acting early makes a real difference.
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Milestones are based on the CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." program. Every child develops at their own pace. EarlyBegin helps you know what to do next — it doesn't diagnose or give medical advice. If you have concerns, talk to your pediatrician.