👶 Young baby
Your 4-month-old baby
Rolling, grabbing and belly laughs
By Emma Whitfield · Pregnancy & Baby Writer
Development at 4 months
Around four months some babies roll from front to back, grab and shake toys deliberately, and laugh out loud. They babble with more expression and love watching faces and copying expressions.
Feeding
Still milk only — even if your baby seems hungrier or is watching you eat, the signs of readiness for solids (sitting with support, good head control, hand-to-mouth coordination) usually arrive closer to 6 months.
Sleep
The "4-month sleep regression" is common — sleep briefly gets more broken as your baby's sleep cycles mature. It passes. Keep your safer-sleep setup and routine consistent through it.
Play & connection
Offer easy-to-grip rattles and textured toys. Narrate your day, play peekaboo, and give plenty of floor time for rolling and reaching. Repetition is how babies learn.
Focus this month
Now is a good time to start reading about starting solids so you feel ready at 6 months — whether you lean towards purées, baby-led weaning or a mix.
When to check in
Speak to your health visitor if your baby is not holding their head steady, not reaching for objects, or not making sounds back to you — always in the context that every baby has their own pace.
Your 4-month-old baby: common questions
What should a 4-month-old baby be doing?
Around four months some babies roll from front to back, grab and shake toys deliberately, and laugh out loud. They babble with more expression and love watching faces and copying expressions. Remember this is a typical range — healthy babies reach milestones at very different times.
How much should a 4-month-old baby sleep?
The "4-month sleep regression" is common — sleep briefly gets more broken as your baby's sleep cycles mature. It passes. Keep your safer-sleep setup and routine consistent through it.
What should I feed a 4-month-old baby?
Still milk only — even if your baby seems hungrier or is watching you eat, the signs of readiness for solids (sitting with support, good head control, hand-to-mouth coordination) usually arrive closer to 6 months.
Sources & further reading
- Baby — development and milestones — NHS Start for Life
- Safer sleep advice — The Lullaby Trust
This is general information, not medical advice — every baby develops differently and the ranges here are typical, not targets. Your health visitor and the NHS red book are your personal sources of truth. If you're ever worried about your baby's development, health or feeding, speak to your health visitor or GP. Reviewed July 2026.