Developmental milestones at 4 months
Here's what most children are doing at 4 months, across key areas of development. Every child grows at their own pace — think of these as a guide, not a checklist. Want to see how your own child is doing?
Take the free 2-minute check →Social/Emotional
- Smiles for attention — Smiling to start an interaction shows your child is learning to communicate socially.
- Chuckles — Chuckling shows growing enjoyment of playful interaction.
- Seeks your attention — Working to get and keep your attention is an important early social skill.
Language/Communication
- Coos — Cooing is early speech practice with vowel sounds.
- Makes sounds back — Answering with sounds is the beginning of back-and-forth conversation.
- Turns to your voice — Turning toward voices shows hearing and social interest developing together.
Cognitive
- Anticipates feeding — Anticipating feeding shows your child connects what they see with what happens next.
- Looks at own hands — Studying their own hands helps babies learn about their body and prepares them for reaching.
Movement/Physical
- Holds head steady — Steady head control is a foundation for sitting and other motor milestones.
- Holds a toy — Grasping a toy builds hand strength for reaching and playing.
- Swings at toys — Swinging at toys shows developing arm control and hand-eye coordination.
- Hands to mouth — Bringing hands to the mouth shows coordination and helps babies explore and self-soothe.
- Pushes up on forearms — Pushing up builds the upper-body strength needed for rolling and crawling.
What if my child isn't there yet?
Milestones are ranges, not deadlines — children reach them at different times and that's normal. If your child is missing several milestones for their age, or something feels off, it's worth a quick check and a conversation with your paediatrician. The free ProParents check gives you a clear, private snapshot in two minutes — and a simple activity to try.
Check your child's development →Frequently asked questions
What are the key milestones at 4 months?
At 4 months, milestones span movement, language, thinking, and social-emotional development. Every child is different — this page lists what most children are doing, based on CDC guidance.
My child isn't doing all of these — should I worry?
Children grow at their own pace and milestones are ranges, not deadlines. If your child is missing several, or you have concerns, a quick check and a chat with your paediatrician is a good next step.
How can I support my 4 months old's development?
Small, consistent daily interactions matter most. Take the free 2-minute ProParents check to see where your child is and get a simple activity to try today.