| BY FOUR MONTHS |
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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
- weight: 10-18 pounds
- length: 23-27 inches
- sleeps about 6 hours before waking during the night
- averages 14-17 hours of sleep daily
- lifts head and chest when lying on stomach
- holds both eyes in a fixed position
- follows a moving object or person with eyes
- grasps rattle or finger
- wiggles and kicks with arms and legs
- rolls over (stomach to back)
- sits with support
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SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- cries (with tears) to communicate pain, fear, discomfort, or loneliness
- babbles or coos
- loves to be touched and held close
- responds to a shaking rattle or bell
- returns a smile
- responds to peak-a-boo games
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INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT
- explores objects with mouth
- plays with fingers, hands, toes
- reacts to sound of voice, rattle, bell
- turns head toward bright colors and lights
- recognizes bottle or breast
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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
- weight: 14-23 pounds
- length: 25-30 inches
- first teeth begin to appear
- drools, mouths and chews on objects
- needs at least 3-4 feedings per day
- reaches for cup or spoon when being fed
- drinks from a cup with help
- enjoys some finely-chopped solid foods
- closes mouth firmly or turns head when no longer hungry
- may sleep 11-13 hours at night although this varies greatly
- needs 2-3 naps during the day
- develops a rhythm for feeding, eliminating, sleeping, and being awake
- true eye color is established
- rolls from back to stomach and stomach to back
- sits alone without support and holds head erect
- raises up on arms and knees into crawling position; rocks back and forth, but may not move forward
- uses finger and thumb to pick up an object
- transfers objects from one hand to the other
- hair growth begins to cover head
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INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT
- cries in different ways to say he is hurt, wet, hungry, or lonely
- makes noises to voice displeasure or satisfaction
- recognizes and looks for familiar voices and sounds
- learns by using senses like smell, taste, touch, sight, hearing
- focuses eyes on small objects and reaches for them
- looks for ball rolled out of sight
- searches for toys hidden under a blanket, basket, or container
- explores objects by touching, shaking, banging, and mouthing
- babbles expressively as if talking
- enjoys dropping objects over edge of chair or crib
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SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- responds to own name
- shows fear of falling off high places such as table or stairs
- spends a great deal of time watching and observing
- responds differently to strangers and family members
- imitates sounds, actions, and facial expressions made by others
- shows distress if toy is taken away
- squeals, laughs, babbles, smiles in response
- likes to be tickled and touched
- smiles at own reflection in mirror
- raises arms as a sign to be held
- recognizes family member names
- responds to distress of others by showing distress or crying
- shows mild to severe anxiety at separation from parent
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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
- weight: 17-27 pounds
- length: 27-32 inches
- sleeps 11-13 hours at night
- some babies will stop taking a morning nap; others will continue both morning and afternoon naps
- begins to refuse bottle or weans self from breast during day
- needs 3 meals a day with 2 snacks in between
- enjoys drinking from a cup
- begins to eat finger foods
- continues to explore everything by mouth
- enjoys opening and closing cabinet doors
- crawls well
- pulls self to a standing position
- stands alone holding onto furniture for support
- walks holding onto furniture or with adult help
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INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT
- says first word
- says da-da and ma-ma or equivalent
- "dances" or bounces to music
- interested in picture books
- pays attention to conversations
- claps hands, waves bye, if prompted
- likes to place objects inside one another
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SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- imitates adult actions such as drinking from a cup, talking on phone
- responds to name
- likes to watch self in mirror
- expresses fear or anxiety toward strangers
- wants caregiver or parent to be in constant sight
- offers toys or objects to others but expects them to be returned
- may become attached to a favorite toy or blanket
- pushes away something he does not want
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