0 to 4 months

Understanding Your Child’s First Days

These first few months are the most confusing for you and for your child. Remember to keep everything soft, including lights, sounds, and smells. Your child is just getting used to all these new sensations and can easily be overstimulated. It is also important to let them stretch out and move! Lying on a play mat or on your tummy is perfect for letting your child strengthen their neck and core muscles.

At birth, your child mainly sees in black and white. At 4 months, their vision is almost fully mature!

By 4 months, your child should be able to hold their head up without wobbling and play during tummy time.

By 4 months, your child will recognize your face and voice, and enjoy playing with you.

Your child will reflexively grasp things in their palm, and will spontaneously kick when lying on their back.

Next Stage →

Hand discovery and mouthing

At around 2 to 4 months, your child will ‘discover’ their hands. They will realize that their hands can do things like touch, feel, grab, and more. This is also around the same time that they begin to put their hands in their mouth. We can encourage them to use their hands by providing high-contrast toys and grabbing toys!

FAQ

Does your baby feel love?

There are many behavioral clues that would suggest that your baby does feel love. Simple things like recognizing your face and voice, smiling at you, and knowing that you’re there for them when they need you indicate a special bond.

When can babies talk?

Babies often don’t say their first words until about 12 months. For now, you’ll probably hear cooing sounds like ‘eeee’, ‘oooo’, ‘ahhh’ and so on. Reading storybooks for babies can increase their language exposure early on.

Can my baby watch TV at this age?

We don’t think it’s very beneficial to put your baby in front of a TV at this age because they have relatively poor eyesight, and the bright lights and loud sounds may startle them. We recommend engaging your baby with educational toys and baby books.

How long should tummy time be for this age group?

Tummy time can begin as early as the first week on a baby play mat. We recommend 1-2 minute sessions, 2-3 times a day. By month 4, you can include some educational toys like rattles.

What educational games can I play with my baby?

Your baby will be doing a lot of looking in the first month or two. During this time, we recommend giving them plenty of high-contrast visuals to look at. By months 3 and 4, you can also introduce soft toys like rattles.

What should I ask during my baby’s first check-up?

Your pediatrician will likely know what to do in these checkups, such as performing a routine physical exam. They will probably also ask you questions about your baby’s behaviors, so you don’t have to worry about remembering what to ask.

0 to 4 months

Hand discovery and mouthing

Related Program

Early Learning Kits