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Welcome to the exciting world of a 4-month-old. By now you have probably noticed that
your infant is much more active both physically and verbally. Not only does he
or she respond to
your approaches, he or she actively participates with family members in play and initiates some
of the interactions. This is your baby's way of learning about the world around him
or her.
Your baby might be so interested in what is going on around him or her, that
he or she seems
uninterested in eating. A change to a quieter room might help. Be aware that infants this
age can become over-stimulated or "overloaded" with activity. Your
infant might
give subtle clues that he or she is tired of playing and activity. Your baby should be calmed at
these times.
Your baby might be ready for solid foods. Waiting until he or she has good head
control and can turn away when he or she has had enough is recommended. Start your baby on an iron-fortified
cereal, mixed with formula, and feed with a spoon. Your baby will find the new texture and
consistency very interesting. Introduce new foods one at a time every three to
four days to give
him or her time to adjust to each new food.
As your infant becomes more mobile, some additional safety issues become important.
Please refer to the safety information listed below.
Safety first
- Make sure smoke detectors are in good working order by testing them once a month. Change
batteries every six months.
- Always use a car seat. Make sure the car seat is properly
positioned in the back seat of the car.
- A playpen is a safe place for your baby to play and learn to amuse himself
or herself.
- Walkers are unsafe at any speed and at any age. Never put your infant in a walker.
- Never leave your infant alone with siblings or pets.
- Never leave your infant alone on a bed, couch, changing table, or infant seat from which
he or she can fall
- Install guards on electrical outlets. Infants can roll across the room quickly. Use
electrical tape to secure electrical cords along baseboards.
- Put small objects, knick-knacks, and poisons out of reach or in a locked cabinet. Infants
love to taste things and can easily choke or be poisoned
- Make sure that your infant cannot pull lamps or other electrical objects on
himself or herself by
the cords. Secure cords on blinds and drapes to prevent accidental strangulation
- Adjust the hot water to less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid burns
- Inspect toys for small parts that can be pulled off and swallowed
- Never leave your infant alone in the bath water; not even for a second. Store small
appliances, such as hair dryers and radios, away from bathing areas.
- Keep a flashlight in your bedroom in case of a power outage.
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