Your 4 Week Old Baby – Development, Milestones & Care

Your baby is officially a month old now. That’s about a 4-week-old baby. Congratulations! You’ve done a great job, new mom and dad. So you’re exhausted, sleepy, and maybe surviving on caffeine (okay, maybe not you, momma!), But it’s all worth it. You might think that all your baby does now is sleep, breastfeed, poop, and repeat, but that bundle of joy is growing and developing so much (though it may not be evident) at this stage. They are hitting some amazing 4-week-old milestones at a rapid pace. You will also probably notice some signs of development in your baby at 4 weeks. A month onwards, your baby will start growing about one inch per month. Do not worry if your little peanut of sunshine is a little more or less, as every child’s growth is unique and different. Continue reading to know what these developmental milestones are and how you can take care of your 4-week-old baby.

Your 4-Week-Old Baby’s Development

At the age of 4 weeks, the newborn development is at a rapid pace. The growth spurt can happen in a variety of ways. The baby will start discovering his limbs and try to figure out what they are and how to use them. Your baby’s response to sounds will be stronger than before, and their spatial placement will have improved. Although their eyes will be getting stronger, they might end up looking cross-eyed at times, as they struggle to focus. Your baby’s neck strength will have improved a bit, and giving them tummy time and engaging them in other activities will improve it further.

[Also Read: 1-Month-Old Baby Development]

4-Week-Old Baby Milestones

Although babies shed about 10% of their birth weight in the first ten days of their lives, at 4 weeks, your baby’s weight will be substantial, as it should increase by approximately 160 g per week in weeks 2-4 (1). They might start looking at their palms and fingers, but fail to make a connection that these are their own and can be operated by them. This discovery of his own limbs and other things around him will manifest as various sounds and grunts.

Let’s take a look at the physical, cognitive and emotional development your child will show at four weeks.

1. Physical Development

The baby’s arms are held to the sides, and limb movements consist largely of uncontrolled writhing, with apparently purposeless opening and closing of the hands. They will be swallowing, sucking, and searching for milk with jerky arm thrusts, but they’ll have clenched little fists most of the time. Eye gaze, head-turning, and sucking are under better control and thus can be used to demonstrate infant perception and cognition. Some babies may turn towards the mother’s voice, denoting that their recognition memory is developing.

By the end of the first month, most babies can raise their head when placed on their tummy. They may even turn their head from side to side, but that’s not certain with all babies (2).

2. Cognitive Development

Infants whose parents are consistently more interactive and stimulating during the day learn to concentrate their sleeping during the night. The 4-week-old is likely to react to a loud noise at this age by either startling, quieting, or crying. Smiling and cooing begin at the end of the first month, and your baby will try to communicate their needs through crying. Different cries mean different meanings. For example, a whiny, nasal, continuous cry may mean that your baby is tired or uncomfortable. A sharp, low-pitched cry, on the other hand, usually indicates hunger. If your child is in pain, their cry would be loud, a long wail, more panicked, followed by repeated pauses. Focusing on objects will start with both eyes, and at this time, they should be able to follow a slow-moving object with their eyes (2).

Caretaking activities provide visual, tactile, olfactory, and auditory stimuli, all of which support the development of cognition.

3. Emotional Development

Crying occurs in response to stimuli that may be obvious, such as a soiled diaper, hunger, tiredness, or any discomfort. This crying may vary in cause and meaning. Some newborns may even startle or react to other babies’ crying.

Refer to the table below to know more developmental milestones babies meet at four weeks of age (3) (2).

[Also Read: 1 Month Old Baby Milestones]

Feeding

A 4-week-old baby’s feeding is extremely essential to help him gain the necessary weight. Your 4-week-old infant’s feeding schedule would be 3 to 4 ounces per feeding every two to four hours for a total of 32 ounces a day. They feed and sleep extensively at this stage, and their schedule is unpredictable rather than fixed.

During this time, as your baby tends to put out his tongue more often, you might spot small amounts of milk in or around his mouth after the feeding. This is normal and not a reason to worry since it primarily occurs because his stomach is still coming to terms with the amount of milk. The valve of his food pipe is comparatively relaxed as compared to adults, and can sometimes allow a little milk to flow back into the mouth. It is best to keep wiping it off occasionally.

Due to the increase in feeding, you may notice that your own breast milk amount tends to go down, especially towards the evening. This can be fixed by taking a nap in the afternoon or playing with your child while lying down. It is also important that your own diet stays on point, and you do not end up delaying any meals just to be able to feed your child. Food and rest are both highly necessary to keep a consistent milk supply. You must also keep yourself hydrated and relaxed. Therefore, meditate and spend time and have skin-to-skin contact with your young one. This will help with more milk letdown.

[Also Read: 1-Month-Old Baby Feeding]

Sleeping

At 4 weeks, babies still sleep a lot, often 14 to 17+ hours a day, mostly in short periods. All the novelty and discoveries that your baby undergoes at this stage tend to keep him awake for longer than usual. Once a feed is completed, your child may lie down quietly and play with his hands or have conversations with you before drifting off to sleep. Around this age, you might start understanding if your child is naturally calm, the energetic sort, or the attention-demanding kind.

Since a 4-week-old’s sleep schedule is still a bit erratic, you should hold your child closer to you for longer. You might need to cuddle and rock him to make him sleep. Feeling safe and secure is important at this stage since your baby starts realising that you might not always be around him or close to him.

[Also Read: 1 Month Old Baby Sleeping Basics]

Behaviour

Through the conversations of the previous weeks, your baby will further realise the different uses of his mouth. Cooing, as well as other sounds of grunting and gargling, will be frequent.

Although he may not be able to convey his emotions through facial expressions, his face might bear glimpses of irritation, vague smiles, or even pain. These will help you pre-emptively understand what your child might require. The slow closing of his eyes is a cue that he is about to fall asleep, and by laying him down and gently rocking him, you can lull him into one.

Your baby’s upper body strength continues to develop speedily, and more supervised time on the tummy is absolutely essential to get this going. Being able to hold his head should be a constant effort throughout this age.

Implications for Parents

By this time, sleep cycles and feeding habits influence parents’ confidence. With physical recovery from delivery and hormonal normalisation, the mild postpartum blues that affect many mothers usually fade away. Infant issues like colic affect babies and families alike. Proper counselling should be sought by parents, which in turn helps in the further sustained development of the child.

Products That a 4-week-old Baby Needs

Your little pocket of sunshine would require some daily essentials and some that make parents’ lives easier. Check out the products that may help you with a newborn at 4 weeks:

• Bottle Bottles: For busy moms who have no choice but to manage work and a baby, baby bottles can benefit babies. There are several different varieties of baby bottles available. For an infant at 4 weeks, look for a slow-flow nipple option.
• Baby swing: Rocking is an effective way to soothe overstimulated or colicky babies. Give your arms a break and try a baby swing. Just remember to set the bouncer to the most reclined position and transfer your baby to a hard sleep surface when they start to fall asleep.
• Parenting Books: Parenting books are a great help in the beginning of infancy, especially for newbie parents who are just learning the baby’s sleep patterns and everything. Keep parenting books handy to read them at times, so you can tackle baby issues well in the middle of the night instead of troubling the paediatrician. 

4-Week-Old Baby Care Tips

Here are some tips that can come in handy when taking care of your 4-week-old baby (4):

• Increased feeding sets in due to a growth spurt, and babies require more food than usual. Make sure you get enough rest in the first place so that your breastmilk production stays on point and enough to feed your baby.
• The increased curiosity can result in your baby staying awake for more time. He could constantly demand attention or not fall asleep by himself as he used to before. It is important to hold your child in your arms and rock or cuddle him so that he gets his daily quota of sleep.
• Swaddling is a great way to pacify them and give them the cocooned feeling of staying warm in the womb. Swaddling also prevents babies from hurting themselves with their own hand and foot movements.
• To ensure safe sleeping on the back, avoid soft bedding, and avoid overheating your child with plenty of clothes or high temperatures.
• Have regular pediatric checkups.

[Also Read: 1 Month Old Baby Care]

Tests and Vaccinations

By 4 weeks, an infant’s birth vaccination is usually done with their first doses of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)-0 dose, and Hepatitis B birth dose. The next round of newborn vaccination (like Pentavalent, IPV, Rotavirus, PCV) is usually lined up for at 6 weeks of age. So, at 4 weeks old, a newborn is likely done with their birth doses and is waiting for their next 6-week checkup (5).

At 4 weeks old, a baby typically isn’t scheduled for new vaccinations; they’ve usually received their first doses (BCG, Hepatitis B, OPV-0) at birth, and the next round of shots (like Pentavalent, IPV, Rotavirus, PCV) usually starts at 6 weeks, so your baby is likely just waiting for their 6-week checkup for the first set of core immunizations. Always follow your doctor’s advice, as schedules can slightly vary, but delaying is generally not recommended. 

Usually, around the end of the first month and before completion of the second month, doctors recommend administering a dose of vaccination for Hepatitis B if it has not already been given at birth. This is primarily to prevent diseases that infect the liver. If already given, this dose is given as part of a combination vaccination with upcoming vaccinations at six weeks of age.

Games and Activities

As your child’s listening skills develop, you can go ahead and enhance his auditory experience by playing games that involve sounds. You can get close to his ear, whisper gently, and talk to him. It can get him excited to learn more and be in sync with how you communicate with him. A gentle snap sound in the direction of the ear will make him realise he can hear sounds from two directions, leading him to understand the presence of two ears.

[Also Read: 1 Month Old Baby Games and Activities]

When to Consult a Doctor

Around a month or so, your baby should already be giving enough signs that show good and healthy development throughout. Therefore, it is important to note the presence or absence of certain conditions and understand if he needs medical intervention.

It takes nearly a month for a baby to start perceiving the surroundings and various sounds in a proper manner. But even after that, if your baby does not seem to respond to claps or calls, doesn’t blink eyes at loud sounds, fails to focus on things or notice your face even when you are in his field of view, you must see a doctor immediately. Also, observe the baby and make a note of other signs, such as faded colour in his pupils. These might be signs of a disorder and must be reported to the doctor soon.

Babies tend to make a lot of sounds at this age. They will move around their arms and legs and try to understand various parts of their bodies. Curiosity and interest are at an all-time high. Many babies are calm and composed, too, but still react to multiple triggers occasionally. If your baby is unnaturally quiet, does not move a lot, shows no interest in his arms or legs, or cries quite differently from others, it might be necessary to bring this to the doctor’s attention.

FAQs

1. What developmental changes can I expect in my 4-week-old baby?

At four weeks (the end of the first month), most babies begin to show improved head control for short periods, react to familiar voices, startle to loud sounds, stare well, and make brief eye contact. They may also start making cooing sounds and display more alert periods during the day.

2. How often should a 4-week-old baby feed?

Most 4-week-old babies feed every 2 to 3 hours, whether breastfed or formula-fed. Feeding on demand is recommended, as babies at this age rely on frequent feeds for growth and comfort.

3. Is it normal for a 4-week-old baby to cry a lot?

Yes, increased crying is common around this stage as babies adjust to the world outside the womb. As long as the baby is feeding well, gaining weight, and has regular wet diapers, occasional crying is usually normal.

4. How can I support my baby’s development at 4 weeks?

Simple activities like tummy time, gentle talking, singing, and maintaining eye contact help stimulate your baby’s senses. Keeping a calm, responsive environment also supports emotional and neurological development.

Every newborn’s development can vary widely. Not all babies will hit every milestone at exactly 4 weeks; ranges are typical. If your baby seems delayed, consulting a paediatrician can greatly help. By spending enough time and regularly interacting with the baby, you can start developing a feeling of security and home within your child.

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Sources References

1. Johns Hopkins Medicine – The Growing Child: Newborn

2. Pregnancy Birth and Baby – Your baby’s growth and development – 1 month old

3. American Academy of Pediatrics – Developmental Milestones: 1 Month

4. Nemours KidsHealth – A Guide for First-Time Parents

5. National Health Mission – National Immunization Schedule