Well Kids — 4 Months

Development and Behavior:

This is a time of considerable development for your child. He will soon start rolling over (if he is not already) and should be able to push up on his arms and lift his head and chest off the table. You can help him develop good muscle control by supporting his hips and lower body so he can sit upright. He may tire quickly at first, but later he will get stronger. Another good exercise is to hold your baby upright under the arms, so he can support some of his weight on his legs.

Fine motor control also is developing at this time. Your baby should grasp a toy (such as a rattle) that is placed in his hand. Gently pull on it to encourage him to hold on. He may also be able to find and grasp a rattle that is placed on his chest. Later on, you may see him transfer a toy from one hand to the other. While you are teaching him to pick up all these things, make sure that none of them are small enough for him to choke on.

Encourage language skills by talking to your baby and repeating the sounds he makes. Get a small mirror (plastic, so it can't break) and encourage him to look at his reflection. Babies often love this game. Giving him new things to play with, such as a spoon or handkerchief, will keep him interested in his surroundings.

Feeding:

Four months of age is a good time to start introducing your baby to the wonderful world of "solid" foods. The word "solid" is in quotes because these foods resemble solids in the same way that an elephant resembles a petunia, which is to say not at all. Personally I think these all fall under the famous words of Pumbaa: "Slimy, yet satisfying!"

I don't like to be too dogmatic about feeding. I think parents have enough anxieties of their own, and I hardly need to add more worries. In general, if you just approach feeding with a good dose of common sense, and a lot of patience, you will do just fine.

Be that as it may, I will give a few suggestions. Start with rice cereal. It is very bland and easy to digest. Mix about two teaspoons of dry cereal with enough breast milk or formula to make it fairly soupy. Give your child part of the bottle or let him nurse briefly so that he is not frantically hungry. Now give him some cereal on a spoon. He will give you a look as if he has just bitten into seaweed, then will slowly work it around with the tongue. Some will come spilling out, which you will dutifully scoop up and recycle, until it gets too disgusting and you get a new spoonful. Soon he will tire of this game, and want to nurse or go back to the bottle.

Eventually, he will take the cereal right off the spoon, swallow it, and open up for more. That is the first major hurdle. Once he is taking the rice cereal well, then start into the other foods. There are many to choose from: barley, oats, fruits and vegetables. Talk to your doctor about what foods to try next.

[Your baby probably won't care which food you give to him. They have all been put through the same unspeakable process which makes them come out looking like something from a bad horror movie.]

Slimy, yet satisfying!
-- Pumbaa

It is often recommend that parents wait a few days between introducing new foods. That way, if your baby does not handle a food well, and it upsets his stomach, you know which one it was. True food allergies are actually very uncommon. However, many babies get a slight upset tummy from certain foods. If you find your baby has this problem, just stop that food, wait a few weeks, and try again. Most likely, he will be able to handle it just fine later.

Please remember that, as your baby eats more of the baby foods, he may take less breast milk or formula. This is normal, and you do not need to worry about it, unless you think that the total amount he is taking is not enough for him. Your health care provider will continue to monitor your baby's growth, which is the best way to ensure that he is eating enough.

As with everything else, if you have any questions about your baby's eating, please call your provider.

Accident Prevention:

• Always use a car seat for your children and a seat belt for yourselves.
• Never leave your baby alone in a car, or on a bed, table or couch. The only safe place for a baby is in the crib or playpen.
• Never place a necklace or a pacifier on a string around your baby's neck.
• Be careful when leaving your baby alone with young siblings.
• Place a gate at the top and bottom of any stairs in your home. This will help prevent falls as your baby becomes more active.
• Buy (and use) smoke detectors.
• Keep your water heater set at no more than 120 º F.
• Never drink hot liquids when holding or feeding your baby. It is too easy for them to spill and burn your baby.
• Inspect all toys, and throw away any which are small enough to choke on, are worn, or have sharp edges or breakable or removable parts.
• Inspect all clothing (including yours) for loose buttons that might be pulled off and so present a choking hazard.
• Do not smoke around your baby, or allow anyone else to do so.

If you have any concerns about your baby's health, please call your doctor. Please do not give any medicines without talking to your doctor first. We are happy to help you in any way we can.