All about me: 2 to 4 months old

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Hi. I am your baby.

I am now 2–4 months old. I have my own unique personality and my own way of doing things.

I may do some things before other babies and I may do some things after them. Be patient. I will get there in my own time.

The most important thing you can do is to be warm, loving and responsive to me. This will help my brain develop and shape the way I learn, think and behave for the rest of my life. I also need you to take care of yourself. If you feel unhappy or have negative feelings, please talk to family, friends or your doctor.

To help you know what to expect, here are some common milestones most babies reach between 2–4 months old.

Growth

Size

  • I am growing quickly and will gain about 450 to 1000 grams (1–2 pounds) a month.

Head

  • The soft spot near the front of my head is still soft. The spot near the back of my head is now closed.

Teeth

  • Don’t let me go to sleep with a bottle of juice, sweetened water or milk. The sugar can damage my teeth even when I am very young. Instead, give me a soother or bottle of unsweetened water to suck until I am asleep and then take it away.
  • Gently wipe my mouth and gums with a clean cloth every day.

Development

Movement

  • I hold my head up when I am sitting or lying on my stomach. But you still need to support my head when you pick me up and carry me.
  • I will reach for and grasp objects like a rattle.
  • I like to bring my hand to my mouth and I can learn a lot about my world with my mouth.
  • I cannot sit by myself but I can sit with support.
  • I will straighten my knees and push down on my legs when you support and stand me on my feet.
  • I can kick my legs and might even turn myself over from my front to my back.
  • I will pull away from anything that hurts me.

Language

  • I cry to tell you I am hungry, tired, uncomfortable, in pain or lonely. You will probably learn to recognize my different cries. But be patient. It may take time for us to understand each other.
  • I love to hear your voice. I sigh, coo and gurgle when you talk to me.
  • I might cry when I hear an angry voice.
  • I am beginning to squeal, laugh and say "ah."
  • If I do not react to sounds or like to be cuddled, take me to a speech-pathologist.

Hearing

  • I respond to sounds and might even stop moving when I hear a new sound.
  • I love the sound of voices, especially your voice. I might become quiet when I hear people talking.
  • Rhythmic sounds like singing, crooning and humming might soothe me.

Vision

  • My eyes can follow objects that are moving in all directions – up, down and to the side.
  • At two months, I am starting to see objects that are farther away. By four months, I can see things at a distance as well as you can.
  • I like to look at circles and spiral patterns. I especially like to look at faces.

Sexual health

Children learn about sexuality daily and continue learning throughout their lives. Sexuality is an awareness of our entire self as a male or female. This is basic to healthy sexual development.

  • I learn about love and trust by the way you hold and cuddle me.
  • I need to hear the correct name of all my body parts, i.e., eyes, nose, penis, vulva or vagina.

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Behavior and emotions

Thinking and feeling

  • I might cry, turn away or make faces when I don’t like something.
  • I like to suck for pleasure and to release tension, not just to get food.
  • I learn to feel safe with people when you respond to my needs.

Crying

  • I usually cry when I need something. I often cry because I am hungry but also if I am tired, wet, gassy, too hot or too cold, or just lonely. Sometimes I cry just to hear myself cry.
  • I know it can be frustrating to hear me cry but please never shake me for any reason. Shaking can cause brain damage, blindness, paralysis or even death. Take a break, don't shake.
  • Here are some ways you can try to soothe me when I am crying:
  • Feed me, even if I just ate. I may be hungry again and I need to eat often when I am growing.
  • Talk to me quietly and softly.
  • Touch my skin and massage my arms and legs.
  • Hold my arms against my chest.
  • Swaddle me in a blanket.
  • Cradle me in your arms and rock me.
  • Bicycle my legs.
  • If you are concerned about my crying, talk to our community health nurse or doctor.

Sleeping

  • I usually sleep about 12 to 16 hours a day and might start to sleep through the night.
  • I should not sleep on my stomach. I am safest when I sleep on my back. Sleeping on my back will help to reduce my risk of sudden infant death syndrome (crib death).
  • If my sleeping patterns are causing problems for you or other people in our family, talk to our community health nurse.

Playing

  • I like colorful toys and objects I can swing and bat at with my hands.
  • I can hold and shake hand toys, like rattles.
  • I like to freely kick my legs and move my arms.
  • I need time on my tummy even though I might cry.

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Care and eating

  • Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula is still the only food I need. I am not ready for solid foods like cereal.
  • If I am breast fed, ask our community health nurse or doctor about a vitamin D supplement.
  • I grow in spurts. Some days I might feed more often than I feed on other days.
  • I may show you I am hungry by smacking my lips, searching with an open mouth or putting my fist in my mouth. When I am full, I will turn my head away, cover my mouth with my hands, or all asleep.
  • I do not need water. If I am thirsty, feed me more breast milk or iron-fortified formula.
  • I might drool and chew on things but it does not mean I am hungry.
  • I can tell the difference between sweet and sour tastes.

Keeping me safe

I am always changing and learning new things. I depend on you to help keep me safe as I start to explore my world. What is safe one day might not be safe the next day. Get down on your hands and knees and see the world the way I see it, so you can remove possible hazards before I find them.

Most childhood injuries can be predicted and prevented. Here are some simple guidelines to help keep me safe between 2–4 months old…and beyond.

Falls are the leading cause of hospital visits for childhood injuries

  • I am learning to roll over from my stomach to my back. Be extra careful when you are changing me on a changing table or other high place. Keep your hand on me at all times – I might surprise you and roll over!
  • Never leave me alone in a high place, such as a changing table, bed or sofa, even if I am strapped into an infant carrier. If you use an infant carrier, always strap me securely into the seat.
  • Strap me securely into my stroller or carriage.

Choking

  • I have found my hands and can bring them to my mouth. My risk of choking on small objects is increasing. Anything I might put in my mouth, like a soother or toy, should be too big for me to swallow.
  • Check my soother often to make sure it is not getting soft and cannot come apart.
  • Never hang my soother on a string around my neck.
  • Choose toys and equipment appropriate for my age.
  • If you hang a mobile in my crib, make sure I can’t grab it and pull it down on top of me.

Car safety

  • Put me in an approved child safety seat every time we travel by car.
  • I am safest in a rear facing child safety seat until my first birthday. Be sure to read the manufacturer's directions - some are only recommended rear facing until I weigh 9 kg (20 pounds) but others not until 16 kg (35 pounds).
  • Make sure my child safety seat is properly installed.
  • Never leave me alone in a vehicle. What you think will take five minutes may take much longer. I can become too hot in a vehicle in the summer and too cold during the winter.

Crib safety

  • My crib should have a bolted mattress support, not S-shaped hooks. The space between bars should be no more than six centimeters (2 3/8 inches).
  • The mattress should fit snugly in my crib.

Sun safety

  • Keep me out of the direct sunlight. Clothing, hats and shade will protect my sensitive skin from the sun.
  • Do not put sunscreen on me until I am 6 months old.

Burns and scalds

  • Be very careful when you eat, drink or carry anything hot when I am close to you.
  • If you warm up my formula in a microwave oven, always shake the bottle and check the temperature before you feed it to me.
  • Check that bath water is about body temperature (37 C or 98.6 F) by touching the water with your wrist or elbow. The water should feel warm, not hot or cold.

Water safety

  • Always stay with me when I am in the bathtub and always keep one hand on me.

Animals and children

  • Animals, even the family pet, can hurt me. Stay with me when animals are around.
  • If our cat or dog is in the house when I am sleeping, close my bedroom door.
  • My siblings and other children can hurt me. Stay with me when other children are around.

Fire safety

  • Make sure our house has smoke detectors that work.
  • Plan and practice how our family will get out of the house if there is a fire.

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Questions?

If you have any questions concerning your child’s healthy growth and development, please contact your community health nurse at your local health region office.

Health Link Alberta

  • Edmonton, Call 780-408-LINK (5465)
  • Calgary, Call 403-943-LINK (5465)
  • Outside Edmonton and Calgary local calling areas, call toll-free 1-866-408-LINK.