• Weight Gain: On average, babies gain 150-200 grams per week this month.
• Height: Babies on average grow about 2.5-3.5 cm per month.

Average Measurements for Indian Babies:
 

Key Milestones:

Motor Development:

• Head Control: Your baby can hold their head steady when sitting with support, showing improved neck strength.
• Tummy Time Progress: Babies will begin to lift their chest off the ground and push up with their arms during tummy time, strengthening their upper body.
• Reaching and Grasping: Your baby will actively reach for and grab objects, showing improved hand-eye coordination.
• Rolling: Some babies may start to roll from their tummy to their back or vice versa, marking a significant milestone in mobility.
• Kicking and Leg Movements: Active leg movements, such as kicking and pushing, help strengthen muscles and promote early motor control.

Cognitive Development:

• Improved Focus: Your baby can focus on faces and objects for longer, showing an increased attention span.
• Recognising Familiar Faces: Your baby will start to recognise familiar people, especially caregivers, and respond with smiles.
• Sensory Exploration: Babies explore the world through their senses, reaching for and touching objects they see.
• Cause and Effect Understanding: They start to realise that their actions, like shaking a rattle, cause things to happen.

Communication and Language Development:

• Cooing and Babbling: Your baby will make more varied cooing sounds and may begin to experiment with pitch and tone.
• Imitating Sounds: They may attempt to mimic sounds you make, especially the tone or rhythm of your voice.
• Engaging in "Conversations": Babies enjoy vocalising back and forth with you, responding to your words with coos and eye contact.

Social and Emotional Development:

• Enjoying Social Interaction: Babies at this stage thrive on social interaction, enjoying being talked to, held, and played with.
• Emotional Responses: Your baby may show a range of emotions like joy, frustration, or excitement through facial expressions and sounds.
• Bonding with Caregivers: Your baby is building stronger emotional bonds with caregivers and may seek comfort from them during moments of distress.

Baby Feeding Techniques:

Breastfeeding:

• Maintain a proper latch for efficient feeding.
• Offer both breasts during feeding sessions.

Bottle Feeding:

• Use slow-flow nipples for controlled feeding.
• Hold your baby upright during feeds.

Milk Supply in the Fourth Month

For Breastfeeding Mothers:

• Your milk supply may begin to stabilise as your baby becomes more efficient at nursing, with longer intervals between feedings.
• Be prepared for potential growth spurts during this month, which can lead to your baby needing more frequent feedings to meet their increasing appetite.
• Ensure you're staying well-hydrated and maintaining a balanced diet to support your milk production during this crucial stage.

For Formula Feeding:

• At four months, your baby may consume 4-6 ounces of formula per feeding, with 4-6 feedings a day, depending on their appetite and growth.
• If your baby shows signs of hunger despite regular feedings, consult your paediatrician about possibly transitioning to a larger formula size or a different formula type.
• Keep a consistent feeding schedule to help your baby develop a sense of security and establish healthy eating habits.

Age: 4-5 months
What: Breast milk 
How much: Nurse every 3-4 hours
How often: Feed 6-7 times a day.

Age: 4-5 months
What: Formula
How much: About half to three fourth cup (4-6 ounces)
How often: Feed 5-6 times a day.

Signs Your Baby is Hungry:

Rooting: Turning their head toward the breast or bottle when touched.

Sucking: Sucking on their hands, fingers, or smacking their lips to signal hunger.

Increased Alertness: Becoming more active or fussy as feeding time approaches.

Crying: Still a late hunger cue but now more varied as they may use different cries to express their needs.

Signs Your Baby is Full:

Relaxed Body: Hands unclench, and their body appears calm and content.

Reduced Sucking: Slower or no sucking.

Turning Away: Turning their head or pushing away the breast or bottle.

Falling Asleep: This often happens after a satisfying feed, indicating they are full and content.

Sleep Patterns in the Fourth Month

• Babies typically sleep 13-15 hours daily, with naps and nighttime sleep.
• Daytime naps: Around 3 naps, lasting 30 minutes to 2 hours each.
• Nighttime sleep: Longer stretches, some babies may sleep for 6-8 hours at a stretch.
• Babies are starting to distinguish between day and night and may begin to self-soothe back to sleep.

Baby Vaccine Schedule

• Ensure that your baby receives the second doses of DTP, Hib, Hepatitis B, IPV/OPV, and Rotavirus vaccines according to the paediatric vaccination schedule.

Newborn Baby Essentials

• Toys for Development: Lightweight toys or rattles to encourage grasping and hand-eye coordination.
• Moisturisers: Use baby-safe products to keep their skin soft and hydrated.
• Diapering Supplies: Ensure you have plenty of diapers, wipes, and rash cream on hand.
• Books: High-contrast or bold-coloured books can stimulate their developing vision.

Baby Bath

• Bathe your baby 2-3 times weekly with lukewarm water.
• Use a gentle, fragrance-free baby soap to clean their skin.
• Avoid scrubbing; pat your baby dry with a soft towel after the bath.