The diet of a child at 4 months. Should I introduce complementary foods into the diet of a four-month-old baby? Features of sleep and feeding
By the age of four months, the crumbs become more active and inquisitive. The periods of their wakefulness increase, while the rest time, on the contrary, is reduced. Children begin to show interest in toys, to make contact with their parents.
The well-being and mood of the baby during this period largely depends on the established daily routine. If the baby will eat, sleep and have fun at a certain time, this will provide him with a feeling of comfort and safety. Let's tell you in more detail how the daily routine of a child at 4 months should look like.
Daily regimen table for a 4-month-old baby
To help parents, we present a visual table by the hour, which demonstrates the approximate daily routine of a four-month-old toddler:
Action | Time | Duration |
---|---|---|
Awakening, hygiene, food | 7:00 - 7:30 | 30 minutes |
Dream number 1 | 7:30- 9:00 | 1.5 hours |
Food | 9:00- 9:20 | 20 minutes |
Quiet activities | 9:20-9:50 | 30 minutes |
Massage and gymnastics | 9:50-10:20 | 30 minutes |
Educational and active games | 10:20-11:30 | 1 hour 10 minutes |
Food | 11:30-11:50 | 20 minutes |
Dream number 2 outdoors | 11:50-13:50 | 2 hours |
Food | 13:50-14:10 | 20 minutes |
Quiet activities | 14:10-15:20 | 1 hour 10 minutes |
Educational and active games |
15:20-16:30 | 1 hour 10 minutes |
Dream number 3 outdoors |
16:30-18:00 | 1.5 hours |
Food | 18:00-18:20 | 20 minutes |
Quiet activities |
18:20-19:30 | 1 hour 10 minutes |
Bathing, hygiene | 19:30-20:00 | 30 minutes |
Food | 20:00-20:20 | 20 minutes |
Quiet activities |
20:20-21:30 | 1 hour 10 minutes |
Preparation for sleep | 21:30-22:00 | 30 minutes |
Night sleep | 22:00-7:00 | 9 o'clock |
Night feedings | individually | individually |
Diet plan for 4 month old baby
On artificial and mixed feeding
If before the age of four months the daily volume of food was 1/6 of the weight of the crumbs, now it has been reduced to 1/7. The resulting value must be divided by the number of feedings. The average one-time food volume is 170-200 ml. However, these calculations are relevant only for babies who are on artificial or mixed feeding.
Since artificial mixtures are absorbed by the body longer, if they are used, it is recommended to reduce the number of meals to 5 times. The diet of a child at 4 months also includes night feedings on demand.
Breastfeeding
If the only source of nutrition for an infant is mother's milk, it is worth holding the child at the breast until he is sated and turns away from her.
The optimal solution for breastfeeding will be six feedings at intervals of 3-4 hours.
Lure
Many parents start to introduce complementary foods to their four-month-old babies. With artificial feeding, this measure is quite justified. Whereas breastfed infants may well go without supplemental foods until six months of age.
According to the advice of modern pediatricians, first of all, it should be introduced into the diet infant not fruity at all, but vegetable purees.
After all, the baby's intestines adapt to them much faster. From the fifth month of a baby's life, it is allowed to give him mashed potatoes from zucchini and cauliflower. It can be prepared at home or purchased at the store. At first, the volume of complementary foods should be only 1-2 teaspoons at a time and gradually increase to 120-150 g per day. Over time, it will be possible to replace one feeding with them.
Irina, Vitya's mother, 6 months old: “We began to introduce complementary foods from 4 months. We started with a tablespoon of zucchini, added one more every day and soon reached 120 grams. Then they gave my son a taste of cauliflower, gradually increasing its quantity and reducing portions of zucchini until a complete replacement occurred. Next, broccoli was introduced according to the same scheme. About a month later, when all the vegetables were tried by the son, they began to alternate them among themselves. Dairy-free cereals were soon introduced. First they gave 1-2 spoons to make sure there were no allergic reactions. And about three days later, breakfast was completely replaced with porridge, which used to be a mixture. Now we introduce fruit purees and juices into the son’s diet. ”
Baby sleep at 4 months
The process of growing up crumbs is accompanied by a reduction in the duration of his daily rest. If earlier the little one could sleep up to 20 hours a day, now 15-16 is enough for him.
Of course, the mode of daily rest of 4-month-old babies can vary significantly. If some sleep all night, others wake up every 2-3 hours and demand a mother's breast. For some babies, a short rest during daylight hours is enough, but in the evening they go to bed an order of magnitude earlier. And all this is quite normal, because each child is individual.
daytime sleep
How much does a 4 month old baby sleep during the day?
Three times a rest during daylight hours, lasting 1.5-2 hours each, is the absolute norm.
Moreover, the first laying can occur immediately after the morning feeding. After all, many children by this age are already able to sleep continuously throughout the night. Their awakening occurs at 6 am, and after eating, babies fall asleep again for a short time. The next rest is in the afternoon. Do not mind the crumbs to take a nap and with the onset of the evening.
Night sleep
The night sleep of a child at 4 months should be 10-12 hours.
At 4 months, the baby's sleep may worsen, even if before that he slept all night.
The baby may wake up every 2-3 hours and demand the mother's breast. It becomes more difficult to lay him down and he falls asleep longer. This phenomenon is called "sleep regression". Its appearance is explained by the onset of a new stage in the development of the nervous system and active physical changes in the child. At 4 months, many children master coups, are more interested in the world around them. The structure of sleep is also changing - now he alternates phases of deep and superficial sleep, like in adults. Because of all these changes, the baby becomes more restless, sleeps less and even loses his appetite.
How to ensure a comfortable sleep for your baby
Give your child love and support
Your baby is growing, he also feels the changes happening to him. Show more attention and love at this moment, communicate, pick him up more often, hug him. Let the baby feel safe, then he will not be afraid of the new big world.
Watch for signs of fatigue
It is necessary to put the baby to bed at the first sign of fatigue, not allowing him to overwork and become capricious.
Follow the schedule
It is important to develop an optimal sleep schedule for an infant and follow it daily as much as possible. If a baby living on a regimen wakes up much earlier than usual, you should try to put him down again. However, insignificant and infrequent deviations from the sleep schedule for 20-30 minutes should not be a cause for concern for parents.
walks
At least two walks should be included in a properly composed daily regimen for a four-month-old baby.
The recommended duration of each of them is at least 1.5-2 hours. The first exit to the street should be carried out in the morning or after lunch, the second - in the late afternoon. It is desirable that the baby not only sleep in the stroller, but also have the opportunity to explore the world around him. Indeed, by four months, the vision of the crumbs is noticeably improving. He is already able to see objects that are at a distance of three to four meters. Therefore, during walks, it is necessary to periodically remove the baby from the stroller and tell him about the surrounding objects, events and phenomena.
It's no secret that kids love being outdoors. Their body is saturated with oxygen, which has a beneficial effect on the development of babies. On the street, the baby is able to sleep for three hours, and in the meantime, the mother can enjoy the silence, reading a book on a bench or talking with a friend.
Going outside should be carried out daily, regardless of weather conditions.
The only exceptions are frosty days from -15°C. Fortunately, modern strollers are equipped with comfortable visors and waterproof covers. They are designed to protect the child from wind and precipitation.
Wakefulness: hygiene, games, physical education
Gymnastics
A well-fed and well-rested 4-month-old baby is full of energy and ready for new challenges. Parents need to direct his energy in the right direction. Gymnastics, massage, educational games and activities will benefit the baby.
Morning exercises will throw off the remnants of sleep from the child and set him up for a busy and interesting day.
It is recommended to carry it out in the second wakefulness of the baby. As mentioned above, many crumbs wake up very early and soon after eating they fall asleep again. The next awakening of the baby should be accompanied by gentle mother's strokes, rubbing the baby's face and eyes, a cotton pad soaked in warm water and fifteen minutes of gymnastics. As a rule, it includes the following basic exercises:
- "bike";
- smooth movements of the hands forward and to the sides;
- flexion and rotation of the feet;
- pull-ups on the handles from a supine position;
- lifting the upper part of the chest so that the baby lying on the stomach leans on the handles;
- training coups on the tummy and back.
Massage
We should also not forget about massage, which, unlike gymnastics, should be done in the afternoon: before swimming or shortly before bedtime. It will relax the baby's muscles and help him tune in to a good night's rest. Massage for a child at 4 months includes not only stroking and rubbing, but also pinching, sawing, stretching exercises. An excellent option would be a massage with the rhyme “rails-rails”. The duration of the session can be up to half an hour.
Komarovsky Evgeny Olegovich, pediatrician of the highest category: “Massage is great not because it changes something in a child’s health. Just children up to a year need constant communication with the mother at the level of contacts. After all, a woman cannot carry a child in her arms 24 hours a day. Therefore, a 20-30 minute massage along with gymnastics allows the baby to make up for this lack of contact. And if you perform actions with skill and in a certain sequence, then the child will sleep peacefully all night, allowing mom to rest.
Bathing
Caring for a child at 4 months necessarily includes daily water procedures.
Usually bathing has a relaxing effect on children and is carried out shortly before a night's sleep.
However, some crumbs feel a real surge of strength after water procedures and then cannot calm down for a long time. In this case, it is necessary to move the bathing to an earlier time.
hardening
The final stage of water procedures is hardening. It implies pouring water over the baby from a ladle, the temperature of which should be 1-2 degrees lower than usual. An alternative option for hardening can be rubbing the skin of the crumbs with a damp terry mitten. At the initial stage water temperature, in which the washcloth is dipped should be 36 degrees, and then gradually decrease.
Lilia, mother of seven-month-old Victoria: “I have many mothers I know who complain about the frequent illnesses of their children. To my sympathetic phrases, they answer: “You feel good, because your daughter is not sick.” And when I try to explain why this is happening, my friends don’t even want to listen. Literally from birth, I harden the child with cool douches, frequent airing of the apartment, walking in light clothes according to the weather. For many overly caring mothers, this is wildness. They are perplexed how it is possible to “freeze” a child and subject him to such “executions”. Apparently, they like to constantly treat their kids much more. ”
Games
Particular attention should be paid to developing activities and games with the child. After all, if two-month-old babies can lie in bed for a long time, watching the mobile or looking at their legs, then at 4 months the child needs educational games and communication with parents. So why not combine the two? You can spend them at any time of the day when the baby is active, not hungry and in a good mood.
Games at home
For example, a tour of the house with looking at interesting objects or getting to know your body parts through a mirror reflection will be great entertainment for the crumbs. Hide and seek, “crawling” and coups for a toy, finger games, dancing and swaying in the arms of the mother - such a pastime will certainly appeal to the baby.
Toys
As for educational toys, almost any objects can act as their role. The kid has recently learned to consciously grab them and hold them in his hands. Soon he will have to master the skill of shifting objects from one hand to another. Therefore, it is necessary to give the baby as many different things to the touch as possible that will help in the development of his motor skills.
Also, four-month-old babies enjoy spending time in developing rugs, feeling their details and trying to reach hanging toys. Tumblers, noisy jars filled with cereals, tambourines, textile balls, cut through, finger puppets - all these educational toys can interest a child at 4 months old.
Conclusion
Thus, the daily routine of a child at 4 months includes three daily rests and 10-12 hours of night sleep. The number of meals directly depends on the method of feeding the baby and reaches 5-6 times. An obligatory part of the daily routine should be long walks, gymnastics, massage, hygiene procedures and games. Such a busy schedule will not let the baby get bored and will contribute to its full development.
Related videos
A four-month-old baby pleases parents with new skills and discoveries. He grew up and got stronger, became more awake in the daytime. There are some changes in the daily routine compared to. It still alternates between periods of sleep, feeding, daytime activities and hygiene. The main changes will affect only the duration of these periods of time.
Approximate daily routine at 4 months of age
At the age of four months, the little man clearly distinguishes the faces and voices of adults. Among those around him, he easily recognizes his mother. Sleep time decreased from 16 to 14 hours, and wakefulness increased by 1-2 hours. The child grows, gains weight and height in a special rhythm programmed by nature.
The daily routine of the baby undergoes changes, and at four months it looks something like this:
Time | Regime processes |
---|---|
7 h | Waking up, first feeding, hygiene procedures (washing, changing a diaper) |
7 h 30 min. – 8 h 30 min | Crib games, stay awake |
8 h 30 min. – 9 h 30 min | morning dream |
9 h 30 min – 10 h 30 min | Second feeding, games and communication with mom |
10 h 30 min – 12 h | Sleep (preferably outdoors) |
12 noon – 2 pm | Third feeding, gymnastics, light massage and air baths |
14h – 16h | Sleep during a daytime walk in a stroller |
16h – 18h | Fourth feeding, staying awake, listening to children's songs, spending time with adults |
18h – 19h | Dream |
19h – 20h | The period of wakefulness, calm communication and games |
20h – 21h | Bathing in the tub, the fifth feeding, getting ready for bed |
21h – 7h | Night sleep |
The baby already distinguishes between light and dark times of the day, and wakes up less and less at night for feeding, preferring to get enough sleep until morning. During the day, he is able to play and spend time without sleep for about 3 hours in a row. The baby is no longer interested in lying around, he loves to listen to the conversations of adults and perks up when they turn to him. During the daytime hours of wakefulness, the baby explores the world through touch, examines the surrounding objects and listens to new sounds.
Baby 4 months: (mother's experience):
Baby sleep at 4 months
The need for prolonged sleep in children at this age remains at a high level. After eating, the baby willingly falls asleep and can take a short nap in the evening. The sleep regimen will be established by itself no later than six months, while the mother cannot always predict at what particular hour her child will fall asleep. Remember that the baby is still too small, and it is not advisable in every situation to follow the schedule on time. It is enough to observe the required total duration of daily sleep.
Norms of daytime sleep
Answering the question of how much a child of four months should sleep, it is worth noting that in a dream the baby should spend at least 14-15 hours a day. At the same time, it takes at least 5 hours for daytime sleep, the remaining 10 hours for night sleep. The duration of daytime wakefulness increases every week, and the sleep pattern changes with it. Some children have four periods of daytime rest followed by three.
On a note! If you see that the child wants to sleep, then do not wait for the right hour “according to the schedule” and put him to bed. It is more beneficial for the baby's nervous system to lull him to sleep at the first signs of fatigue than to try to do this after time, preventing the child from satisfying the need for rest.
Baby food at 4 months
The feeding regimen established for a 4-month-old baby involves a smooth transition to eating five times a day. This is the main difference between the daily routine and previous weeks. Today, mothers have the opportunity to choose the food for their baby - through breastfeeding, mixed or artificial feeding.
Breastfeeding nutrition
The most suitable food for children of this age is breast milk. The baby needs to be fed every 3-4 hours. At night, the interval between breastfeeding becomes longer - about 7 hours. The daily regimen for breastfeeding is most often adjusted no earlier than 5-6 months, because. the baby still prefers to eat not by the clock, but on demand. Meanwhile, the number of meals for breastfeeding is reduced compared to previous months.
On a note! Contrary to many opinions, a 4 month old breastfed baby does not need complementary foods. Up to six months, the nutritional value of mother's milk is quite enough for the healthy development and growth of the baby.
Artificial feeding
On artificial feeding, nutrition is carried out exclusively with an adapted mixture, or with a mixture and mother's milk, the amount of which does not exceed 200 ml per day. At this age, a starter (initial) mixture labeled "1" is suitable for a child. The required amount of the mixture depends on the weight and health of the little child. Based on these data, the doctor calculates the approximate volumes and frequency of meals per day.
An approximate nutritional plan for a 4-month-old bottle-fed baby looks like this:
Important!If it seems to the mother that her baby is not getting enough breast milk, do not immediately try to feed the adapted formula. To begin with, you should seek advice from a pediatrician or a breastfeeding consultant. The specialist will tell you how to increase lactation and recognize whether your little one is eating his fill.
First feeding on IV
For formula-fed babies, the first complementary foods are introduced at 4 and a half months to replenish the body with all the missing substances. Pediatricians recommend introducing “adult” food with caution, gradually introducing one-component vegetable purees into the diet, then cereals without milk and gluten, and then fruit juices for baby food.
Acceptable complementary foods for children over 4 months of age:
The reaction of the baby to complementary foods is of paramount importance: the product must be to his taste. Starting with ½ tsp. new food, its amount increases daily by 1 tsp. Ten days later, the volume of the injected component should be 120-150 ml. So, four feedings a day remain exclusively dairy, and the fifth is replaced by an innovative product.
Feeding a baby from 4 months - what to look for:
The day regimen for artificial feeding has its own characteristics:
- As a rule, milk formula is digested by the baby's stomach longer than mother's milk. Consequently, babies stay full longer, and it’s easier to set up a clock schedule with such babies.
- In infants on IV with a properly selected mixture, colic disappears by 4-4.5 months, so that children sleep at night much calmer than their peers.
- Milk formula consumption may vary from dose to dose. The baby ate 160 ml in the morning, but did not master 120 ml in the afternoon? This is normal and may not be due to a lack of appetite, but to the time of day or even the mood of the crumbs.
mixed feeding
The mixed feeding diet implies that the baby receives breast milk (at least 1/5 of the daily volume) and an adapted mixture. If a four-month-old baby is on mixed diet He needs to be fed on demand. Pediatricians in this case are advised to give a diluted mixture from a spoon, and not from a bottle - getting used to it can have a bad effect on HB. It is easier to drink from a bottle, and soon many children flatly refuse to breastfeed.
Walking with a child
The peanut begins to show an active interest in the world around him. During the walk, try to tell him about everything that meets on the way: children playing ball, animals, plants and vehicles. It is necessary to go out into the fresh air with your daughter or son at least twice for 1.5-2 hours a day.
The child's regimen in winter and late autumn may vary depending on weather conditions - in severe frost, wind and heavy rain, it is better to stay at home. Also, the child's regimen in the summer can be adjusted on too hot days, which are safer for the baby's health to spend in a ventilated room.
The pros and cons of walking at different temperature conditions can be seen in the table below.
Outdoor air temperature | Features of the walk |
---|---|
-8°C and below | Babies still have a rather weak nasopharynx. Walking at low air temperatures can lead to respiratory diseases. If going outside is necessary, then take care of warming the air inhaled by the child. Wrap your baby in a hooded fur envelope, creating air cushion near the face. You can be outside with a baby at this temperature for no more than 20 minutes. |
0°C to -8°C | Short 30-minute walks will help the baby fall asleep soundly. Take care to protect the baby from the wind - use a warm blanket for the stroller or a winter envelope insulated with fur. Before going out, apply a special protective cream against frost on the cheeks and nose of the little one. |
+1°C to +8°C | At this air temperature, it's time to arrange long one and a half hour walks for the baby. Children fall asleep wonderfully in the conditions of fresh cool air, mothers can also relax and take a stroll in the park with a stroller without haste. |
+8°C to +15°C | The air temperature is comfortable and conducive to walking. You should pay attention to the fact that the little one does not sweat from extra layers of clothing. Do not wrap the baby, it is better in case of unstable weather to cover it in the stroller with a spare blanket for warming. |
+15°C to +20°C | In sunny weather, it may seem that it is hot outside, but in the shade and with the presence of wind, it is still far from summer. Consider all the factors before going out into the yard with your child - whether the sun is shining or cloudy, whether the wind is blowing. Do not dress the baby too lightly, at +16 it is still quite easy to freeze, especially when in a stroller without moving. |
+20°C to +25°C | Days filled with sun and warmth are good for long walks with babies. But direct sunlight can be dangerous for defenseless children's skin. Choose thin, breathable clothing, and lubricate unprotected areas of the body with 0+ sunscreen milk. |
From 25°C and above | The safe time to go outside is before 11 am and after 3 pm. In this heat, the baby will need extra fluid, so be sure to take it with you. drinking water. When walking with a stroller, create shade in it by lowering the hood and opening the "window" with a mesh for ventilation. If the walk takes place in the mother's arms, then a headdress and a thin one, but covering the body from sun rays clothes. |
The physical development of the baby
It is important to engage in strengthening and developing muscles in a small child regularly and devote time to this not only in the morning. Gymnastics with a baby is an important step towards preparing and mastering the skills of turning over and crawling. Pediatricians consider the optimal 5-7 minute load, performed with the help of the mother in the morning, afternoon and evening.
- At 4 months, children tend to roll over on their own into the “tummy” position. By strengthening your back muscles, you can speed up the learning process. It is useful to play with the baby in the "ball". Rolling the baby on the tummy and back, accompany the lesson with a fairy tale that he has become a ball and now wants to roll far, far away. This exercise makes the abdominal muscles flexible in children.
- An exercise to strengthen the spine and arms will prepare the baby for the sitting skill. The child grabs the index fingers of an adult; then the parent gently and low pulls the baby towards himself. After counting to ten, lower it back to the supine position.
- To stimulate crawling, an adult can put his hand under the heels of the baby when laying out on the tummy. The peanut will use his palm as a support - trying to push off with his legs, he will make an attempt to move forward. So that the efforts of your child are not in vain, make the surface comfortable for crawling - it can be a floor covered with a blanket or blanket.
Gymnastics and possible exercises with the baby (video):
Games and development at 4 months
Four-month-old children are awake for at least eight hours during the day. A selection of interesting developmental activities for your baby can be a good help for a young mother for every day.
"Excursion"
The baby likes to spend time with her mother in her arms and look at everything around. Take the youngest member of the family for walks around the house. "Traveling" in his parents' arms, he replenishes his passive vocabulary with the names of various objects. All the information heard from adults is gradually stored in the baby’s memory, which will soon be seen - your child will turn his head towards the subject that was mentioned in the conversation.
"Shurshim - we ring"
Fine motor skills and tactile sensations contribute to the development of intelligence. It is useful for the baby to introduce objects / toys that have a different texture surface. Children enjoy rustling paper, crumpling a teddy bear and examining a rattle with holes. It is important to focus on the material, and not on color - toys oversaturated with shades scatter attention.
"Musical moment"
Rhythmic music is what delights four-month-olds. Simply clapping your hands to the beat of the melody helps to develop a sense of rhythm from the cradle. Just pick up a child and dance with him to the perky music - this activity improves mood, develops memory and coordination.
"Magpie - white-sided"
Little ones are very amused by finger story games, such as "Okay", "Hide and Seek", "There is a horned goat" and various game actions with their legs and arms. In combination with funny faces, stroking fingers, the brain centers are activated - they are responsible for the preparation of the articulatory apparatus, and, in the future, speech.
At the age of four months, the baby is more and more actively exploring the world, approaching this more consciously. But, as before, the regime of the day 4 month old baby consists of sleep, feeding and wakefulness, but their duration and quantitative indicators change compared to the period after birth.
Approximate daily routine for a 4 month old baby
- From 6 to 8 in the morning, the baby wakes up, eats, and the mother carries out hygiene procedures. Also during this period, you can do gymnastics and take air baths.
- From 8 to 10 in the morning, the baby has a dream.
- From 10 to 12 - the second feeding, as well as active pastime. Perfect for educational games.
- From 12 to 14 - it's good to go for a walk with the child.
- From 14 to 16 - the third meal, a walk around the house, developmental activities.
- From 16 to 18 - you can go for an evening walk in the fresh air. At this time, the baby can sleep.
- From 18 to 21 - the time of the fourth meal, communication with the family, and by the end of this period - time for bathing.
- From 21:00 to 22:00 the baby gets ready for bed. To do this, he must be calm, and the atmosphere at home - pacifying.
- After 10 p.m., mom feeds the baby before bed.
- From 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. the child sleeps.
Of course, all this is individual, therefore, you can make certain adjustments to the daily routine of your crumbs. But the routine should be in any case, as this has a positive effect on the mental and physical development of the baby.
Important Points
Despite the individuality of each crumb, two main points must be included in the daily routine of a child at 4 months:
- meals at four-hour intervals;
- daytime "quiet" hours with a total duration of about six hours.
It is worth noting that daytime sleep remains important for a child up to 6 years of age: only its duration changes in time. Sleep during the day allows you to restore nervous system crumbs, contributes to its harmonious development.
Feeding schedule for 4 month old baby
Five meals a day at four months is the norm for a child. To date, there are three types of nutrition for children of four months: breastfeeding, artificial, mixed. It all depends on whether a woman can breastfeed, as well as on the amount of milk that her body produces.
Interestingly, a month ago, the baby ate six times, and now five is enough for him. This is primarily due to the fact that the child now consumes more milk or formula in one feeding than before. At 4 months, a baby needs about a liter of mother's milk per day. That is, one dose is 150-200 ml. The same portions and with artificial feeding.
It is too early to introduce the first complementary foods while breastfeeding, as pediatricians advise starting complementary foods no earlier than 6 months. Only in rare cases, if the baby was born prematurely or is gaining weight below normal, the doctor may advise combining complementary foods with breast milk.
The feeding regimen of a 4-month-old bottle-fed baby can gradually switch to complementary foods. - read the additional article on complementary foods.
Baby sleep schedule at 4 months
The need for sleep at this age is very high. The total duration of sleep is 16 hours, but this figure may be different. The most important thing in sleep and wakefulness is the well-being of the baby. It is also worth looking closely at the baby, because at four months you can already observe the manifestations of his biorhythm and understand whether he is a lark or an owlet. This information will help you more correctly build a baby's sleep schedule at 4 months.
Based on each specific case, a caring and smart mother should build a child’s day regimen at 4 months in such a way as to provide him with the conditions necessary for proper development, this is possible with a competent arrangement of periods of vigor and sleep. A poorly slept child will be capricious, will refuse the offered games and food, and an oversleeping child will become very excited. So the principle of the golden mean is important here as well.
With a rational approach, you can get used to the different individual characteristics of any child, teaching him to do everything according to the correct daily routine.
If a child at 4 months does not sleep well at night, he will interfere with rest for loved ones. In this case, it is necessary to put the baby to bed a little later and see how this will affect sleep throughout the night. If it so happened that the child woke up at night, you can be smart and try to spread the baby. This will not take much time, because the child will fall asleep very quickly and sleep until morning.
If the baby does not sleep at night
Some children delight households with their restful sleep throughout the night. Others do not sleep and do not allow anyone to do this. Is it possible to change the daily routine of a child at 4 months so that he sleeps longer and calmer at night? It is possible, and for this you need to exclude the first part of sleep at night, replacing it with a period of vigor.
At first, this may seem like “cruelty”: if the baby is naughty and tends to sleep, not putting him to rest means committing a “crime”. However, looking at it from the other side, you will understand that a child who woke up after a daytime sleep at 6 pm, played enough active games, bought and ate well at 11 pm, will fall asleep very quickly, one has only to put him in the crib. Because the baby is tired, he will wake up no earlier than 6 in the morning. Of course, in this case, all family members will have a rest, and even have time to chat with each other. Therefore, in this case, not letting the baby sleep for an hour is a justified step.
Walks in the crumbs schedule
The daily routine of a 4-month-old baby is unthinkable without walking in the fresh air. If it's sunny, light rain or slightly chilly outside, you can go for a walk with your baby. The exception is abnormal heat in summer or low temperature in winter.
The benefit of walking for the baby is that he learns the world: he distinguishes objects and objects, colors, over time he begins to understand the difference between big and small, wet and dry. All this has a positive effect on his intellectual and speech development, helps to strengthen the eye muscles, improves health, as the cells receive the oxygen they need.
Try to walk away from traffic and roads. Parks and squares will be an excellent option. If there is an opportunity to walk in a flattering area, then do not miss it.
Walking also improves the state of immunity: children are better able to cope with harmful microorganisms that attack them literally at every turn.
Educational games for a 4 month old baby
A four-month-old baby does not sleep for eight hours, and this time should be filled as much as possible with games aimed at its development.
- Excursions around your apartment are interesting and useful for the child. Being in the hands of an adult, the baby makes acquaintance with the objects surrounding him. All this is deposited in the child's memory. Soon you will see for yourself. Say the name of some familiar object and you will understand that the baby will turn in his direction. Later, the child himself will make sounds, in his language, meaning the name of the subject.
- It is useful to give bright toys with different surface textures to the child for the development of tactile sensations. They can be soft and hard, smooth and rough, with tubercles and have a variety of holes. Colors may also be different. It is not only recommended to give toys that combine more than two or three colors and have blurred transition boundaries, as well as containing small details, because the baby, due to his young age, can swallow them.
- The age of four months is a great time to use entertainment centers, mobiles and developmental mats. They will help develop hearing, fine motor skills, encourage the baby to move. Undoubtedly, all of them are very useful for the child, but you should not overload his nervous system by giving several items at once.
- It is useful to listen to children's rhythmic music. And if at the same time clap your hands and dance, then in addition the baby will gain a sense of rhythm. Many children love to make movements with their relatives - take the baby in your arms and smoothly spin around with him to the melody.
- The crumbs need to sing songs, tell poems and fairy tales, play nursery rhymes. Already at this age, kids can perceive information with their eyes, it is worth starting to teach them to look and read.
- Loved by all the kids and contribute to their development of fun - finger games “going horned goat”, “forty-white-sided”, “patties”, etc. Fingering small fingers will help develop sensory perception and brain centers responsible for speech. And also will please and make the baby laugh.
Since all toys and things that fall within the reach of the baby will fall into his mouth, it is necessary to carefully monitor their cleanliness. Toys should be washed every day with boiled water, and pieces of fabric should be washed periodically. Remove dangerous objects that can harm the child, and exclude his access to them.
Physiological characteristics of a child at four months
If you look at a child at this age, it will seem that he is inactive and prefers to be in the arms of his mother. But right now he has the skills of grasping objects and the first attempts to rise on the handles, to do flips from back to stomach.
If relatives daily and correctly stimulate the baby, perform the listed actions, then by the end fourth month the baby will be able to reach out to toys, grab them with his hands, roll over on his own in order to look at others. The baby can rise and lean on his hands, lying on his tummy.
In order for new skills not to keep you waiting, you can stimulate the activity of the child by placing a folded diaper or roller under his hands. The baby will try to push off from it or use it to roll over. A good helper in this matter can be a developing rug. He will make the baby move more, because they will reach the toy that hangs on it is not so easy, and the tweeters need to be found.
Hygiene procedures
It is no longer necessary to wash with boiled water, since the lacrimal glands have already developed and do not need daily artificial moistening. Family members may notice that the baby’s nails began to grow much faster and they have to be cut more often, because the baby is actively waving its legs and arms and can injure itself. But do not cut the nails too short, because this will give the child discomfort.
Procedures in the water, used from the birth of the baby, do not change by four months: they are carried out every day in the evening. Temperature regime 35-36 degrees. The time spent in water is not more than 10 minutes. At this age, you should not use extra bathing products more than once a week, as they dry out the delicate skin of the child. It is also advisable to use a baby cream after bathing.
Massage and gymnastics
These types of interactions with the baby have a positive effect on his health. That is why it is important that massage and gymnastics are included in the child's daily routine at 4 months. Massage for the baby is able to provide:
- calming effect;
- strengthening, when we talk about the body's defenses;
- nourishing and moisturizing when there are skin problems;
- a cognitive effect when a child remembers his feelings from the touch of his mother's hands and develops certain associations.
When conducting a massage, it is necessary to use baby oil or a special cream to solve certain local problems.
Gymnastics has a positive effect on the developing growing body, tones it, makes it possible to eliminate some problems with the musculoskeletal system. But therapeutic exercises should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor or even with his help. This also requires special indications, for example, trauma at the birth of a baby or problems in the development of the musculoskeletal system. The most optimal would be a five-minute load.
- Children of this age try to roll over on their tummy from the back themselves. To help them in this, it is useful to play “kolobok”. Carefully roll the baby from back to stomach and back on the big bed, in order not to scare the baby, sing a song from a fairy tale.
- For a strong spine and arm muscles, the mother is engaged with the child, giving her index fingers and pulling the baby towards her. This teaches the baby to sit down on his own in the future
- When you put your baby on his tummy, put your hands under his heels. The kid instinctively pushes into them with his legs, trying to crawl away. It will be more convenient for him to do this on a non-slippery surface, for this it is enough to spread a diaper or a thin blanket on the carpet.
How to temper a child
The age of four months is an excellent time to start hardening. Subject to its regularity, this will make the baby's health strong and allow him not to get sick.
In the first months of a baby's life, try to be with him more in the fresh air and take air baths, this will be the beginning of hardening. It is enough to keep an undressed baby in a room with a temperature of 22 degrees for ten minutes twice a day.
One of the gentler, but at the same time effective procedures is a rubdown. Try the dry method before using water. The skin of the crumbs is wiped with a soft terry cloth mitten. This should be done with extreme caution, because the baby's skin is very delicate, and you will notice that it is a little reddened. When 7-10 days pass and the child gets used to this procedure, try wiping the baby with a wet mitten. To do this, moisten it with warm water (36 degrees), squeeze it well and wipe only the baby's face first. After several procedures, try to slightly increase the wiping area, so enter the procedure until the child's body is completely wiped. The duration of the procedure is no more than 2 minutes. Gradually reduce the temperature of the water: every 3 procedures by 1 degree (thus, bring it to 30 degrees).
Each hardening procedure must be carried out by creating a good mood for the baby. It is not necessary to allow the appearance of anxiety, fear, and even more so crying. If they do occur, reschedule the procedure for another time, as it will not work to get a positive result now.
How to create comfortable conditions for a baby at 4 months?
Probably, many young mothers ask themselves a similar question, the birth of a baby entails a lot of new sensations and unexpected trials.
The first three months of a child's life brought their discoveries into the lives of young parents, but the most interesting is just beginning.
The day regimen of a child at 4 months is quite diverse, loving parents should be well aware of bathing and proper feeding, healthy sleep and physical activity. We will consider each item of the daily routine in detail.
So, the daily routine of any newborn child includes:
- * Healthy sleep and wakefulness
- * Proper nutrition
- * Physical development and hygiene procedures
- * Emotional release
Based on the points presented above, any parent will be able to correctly draw up a daily routine for his own, the main thing to remember is that there should be a measure and control in everything.
Sleep mode of the growing toddler
The day of any baby begins with awakening, but parents need to pay special attention to the regimen of children's sleep, because the harmonious development of the child depends on this. At the 4th month of life, the child begins to learn about the world around him, and the wakefulness period is already more than four hours, during which time you should have time for a lot of interesting things. Research in the field of baby sleep provides interesting statistics, the sleep schedule of a child at 4 months should consist of three to four short stages of daytime sleep and eight hours of sleep at night. However, dear parents, you should not drive your baby into the generally accepted framework.
A properly developing child will perfectly cope with the task of regulating sleep. In the process of development, you will see that statistics are not always a real reflection of life. There are situations when the child sleeps a little more or less than the established norm and feels great. The main task of loving parents is to create comfortable conditions for the child's sleep, as well as frequent walks in the fresh air. It is fresh air that will allow the growing organism to develop harmoniously, saturating it with oxygen and the positive energy of nature.
We observe proper nutrition
Proper nutrition of a growing baby is the main task of parents. In modern conditions, many young mothers use artificial mixtures and various fillers. Today, there are three main types of nutrition for young children:
- Artificial feeding
Babies on artificial feeding at 4 months begin to try adult food for the first time, of course, in a crushed state, but still not mother's milk. When choosing complementary foods, you should pay attention to the quality and reaction of the baby, he should like the food and cause only positive emotions. Start feeding the baby one teaspoon of the selected product, if the baby likes the food, increase the amount of complementary foods by one spoon every day, after 1-1.5 weeks the amount of the product should reach 150 grams per day.
For the first complementary foods, it is best to use juices and liquid puree, later move on to cereals. In the 4-month-old baby mode, there will be one feeding with a new product, and the rest of the feedings will continue to be replaced by formula, you should feed the baby no more than 5 times a day.
- Breast-feeding
Scientists have proven that breast milk is simply necessary for feeding the baby. It has all the necessary vitamins and minerals, which is why babies on breast milk rarely get sick.
However, at 4 months, the baby begins to be interested in other products and for harmonious development, the introduction of additional food products is required, which range from 150 to 200 grams. The amount of mother's milk eaten is no more than 1050 grams. During this period, the child is actively developing, so the intervals between daily feedings are notshould be more than 3.5 hours, and at night the baby may well do without the usual feeding.
- mixed feeding
Sometimes there are situations when breast milk is not enough for the full diet of the child, therefore, various milk mixtures are used as a supplement. At 4 months of age, a mixed-fed baby consumes up to 600 grams of breast milk, up to 450 grams of mixtures and up to 170 grams of additional vegetable puree, juices and fruit drinks.
Hygiene and sports are the key to a healthy body!
The daily routine of a child at 4 months becomes more diverse, long walks in the fresh air and physical activity appear. By this age, the baby's body has grown stronger, and he quite confidently begins to hold on to the handles and talk.
Parents should carefully monitor all the movements of the baby and teach him to play patties, as well as regularly warm up and train. A child at 4 months of age quite consciously perceives physical activity and tries to actively memorize movements, so a whole set of exercises was developed for proper development. Today, all exercises with the baby can be performed at home, everything needs to be done carefully and slowly, it is then that the baby will laugh fervently and do gymnastics every day with joy. The main set of exercises can include:
- - Massage, flexion and extension of the feet
- - Massage, ring rubbing and crossing of arms
- - Tummy massage
- - Back massage
- - Breast massage
- - Exercises on the ball
At this age, the baby may well perceive physical activity for 20 to 25 minutes. A healthy child will perform all the exercises with joy. If youpay attention to the displeased grimace, which means that something is bothering the baby. Contact your doctor immediately and list all your observations.
Hygiene procedures in the life of the baby they occupy a rather important place, so it is worth paying quite a lot of time to the procedures for bathing, washing and hardening. Bathing the crumbs should be done every day before bedtime, herbal decoctions can be added to the bath. The water temperature should reach 37 ° C, however, it is necessary to pour the crumbs with water cooler by 1-2 ° C. In the morning, the baby's face should be treated with warm water, paying special attention to the eyes.
Baby emotions!
At 4 months, the baby is capable of a clear expression of his emotions, which is why it is necessary to play with the child and spend a lot of time outdoors. The baby actively explores the world around him and remembers everything that happens around him. Parents should talk a lot with the child, turn on pleasant music and tell stories about animals, birds and fish.
The daily routine of a four-month-old baby still consists of feeding, sleeping, playing, massage, hygiene procedures and developmental exercises, but the duration of these stages varies significantly.
Approximate daily routine for a 4 month old baby
- 06:00-08:00 Waking up, washing, diaper change, gymnastics, air baths and first feeding.
- 8:00-10:00 - morning sleep.
- 10:00-12:00 - massage, developing exercises and games, second feeding.
- 12:00-14:00 - sleep in the fresh air.
- 14:00-16:00 - the third feeding, acquaintance with the surrounding objects, educational games, communication.
- 16:00-18:00 - sleep, walk.
- 18:00-21:00 - games, communication, bathing, fourth feeding.
- 21:00-22:00 - hygiene procedures, preparation for a night's sleep.
- 22:30-23:00 - fifth feeding.
- 23:00-6:00 - night sleep.
Few people manage to strictly adhere to the regime of the day, and this is not necessary. It is important to put first individual requirements and the preferences of the child and adapt to them. Each family will make its own adjustments and amendments. The daily routine should be convenient for the baby, and not for his parents. But still some important points should remain unchanged during the day:
- Intervals between feedings should be at least 4 hours;
- Daytime sleep in total should be approximately 6 hours.
Compared to the previous month, now the baby should eat not 6, but 5 times a day. Feeding methods are selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the baby, the indicators of its development and the capabilities of the mother. It could be breast-feeding, artificial or mixed.
A baby - a baby at 4 months does not need additional feeding. He is getting enough nutritious breast milk, the volume of which has increased markedly. It is for this reason that feeding has become one less. The grown up baby can now remain full for a long time.
Children who are bottle-fed also eat five times a day, approximately 200 milliliters of formula milk at a time. The daily rate should be approximately 1 liter. From this month, babies are gradually switching to replacing one feeding with milk formula for complementary foods in the form of liquid porridge, cottage cheese with kefir or vegetable puree.
Before you completely switch to full-fledged complementary foods, you need to choose a product that your child will like. You need to start introducing a new product with one teaspoon per day. After about a week and a half, the volume of one serving should be about 150 milliliters. As soon as the baby is happy to eat such an amount of new food, you can safely replace one milk feeding per day with complementary foods.
Mixed feeding is used by mothers who produce insufficient breast milk. They feed babies with both breast and milk formula. Such children also need to introduce complementary foods gradually. As a result, the daily norm for a four-month-old child who is on mixed feeding is: breast milk - 500 milliliters, mixture - 400 milliliters, complementary foods - 150 milliliters.
Sleeping mode
A four-month-old baby sleeps about sixteen hours a night, but the duration of nighttime sleep increases due to longer wakefulness during the daytime. Perfect option- this is a ten-hour night sleep and a six-hour sleep during the daytime (3 times about 2 hours). Not every baby adheres to this sleep pattern. More active babies may sleep once or twice a day, while some still need four. daytime sleep. Some wake up at night every 3 hours, while others sleep 8-10 hours in a row. Already at the age of 4 months, you can recognize the little "owls" and "larks".
Each mother must create individual conditions for her baby, but sleep must necessarily alternate with a period of activity. The mood of the child, and his appetite and desire to communicate and play will depend on the quality and duration of sleep. If the baby does not sleep well at night, then it makes sense to put him down a little later. You will have to show all your ingenuity in order to prevent the baby from falling asleep early. But when he is finally tired, he will sleep soundly all night.
walks
Walks may not take place only under very unfavorable weather conditions - this is extreme heat, frost over 15 degrees and sharp gusts of wind. Any other weather (even rain) should not interfere with daily walks. It is advisable to go outside with the child twice a day for 1.5-2 hours.
Outdoor travel should be in two parts. The first part of the walk should be in the form of an excursion. The child needs to show and tell as much as possible, give some objects to touch or take a closer look at birds and animals, at cars or a bus. Tell and show the baby where the sun, sky, grass, leaf, etc. are. After such an informative first part, the baby will spend the second part in a calm and sound sleep. Sleeping in the fresh air is an integral and no less useful part of the walk.
Educational games
Waking time is about 8 hours a day. If we subtract the duration of hygiene procedures and feeding, then there is still enough time to do various developmental exercises and games with the baby.
It is very informative for the crumbs to take a trip through all the rooms in the house or apartment. During such excursions, be sure to linger near the objects, give the baby the opportunity to remember them, touch or listen. Sitting in adults' arms, the child will accumulate vocabulary in your memory. He will definitely remember the names of the objects. This can be checked when, in the next such walk, you ask, “Where is the watch?” or the like. The kid will look for what he was asked about.
Tactile sensations can be developed with the help of bright toys made of different materials(for example, a soft toy made of fabric, a wooden horse, a rough ball, a smooth cube, and others). The colors on the objects should be bright, not mixed, with clear boundaries between two or three colors. The child must touch all the holes or tubercles that are on the objects.
It is necessary to purchase such toys for the baby that will develop fine motor skills, hearing, vision, tactility, as well as attention and memory. One of these toys is a musical carousel, which is attached above the crib. It helps the baby to focus on one object and follow its movement.
During such observations, the child studies the colors and shapes of objects, tries to reach a certain toy and listens to music.
The sense of rhythm and ear for music can be developed by listening to a rhythmic melody or listening to funny children's songs. Spin around with the baby in a waltz a little, then clap your hands or stomp your feet to the rhythm.
The kid can gradually begin to accustom to children's books. Read poems, nursery rhymes, fairy tales to him aloud, accompanying your story with a display of vivid illustrations. Together with your child, turn the pages of cardboard books and point your finger at the picture, naming it.
We are already preparing for the development of speech. Its development is directly related to fine motor skills. Therefore, it is necessary to play various finger games and fun with the child every day. For example, “Ladushki”, “There is a horned goat”, “Magpie-Crow”. Along with these games, it is necessary to massage each individual finger and light strokes.
Since the baby explores the world not only with his hands, but also with the help of his tongue and mouth, it is very important to keep the toys clean. It is necessary to carry out their daily treatment with boiled water.
This month is increasing exercise to be carried out with the child. Such exercises should contribute to the development and strengthening of muscle tissue, joints and spine. The optimal time for gymnastics and various exercises is morning, afternoon and evening (duration - about 5 minutes).
Four months is the age when the baby tries to change his position on his own. First, he turns on his side, then on his tummy and back on his back. To consolidate this skill, repeated "training" is required, associated with strengthening the press of the abdomen and spinal muscles. Classes can be carried out in the form of a game. For example, roll the baby from the tummy to the back and back, while saying the song Kolobok.
To strengthen the muscles of the arms and back, you can do pull-up exercises. Mom's fingers will serve as a support for which the child should grasp tightly, and the mother will gently pull the baby towards her. Such an exercise is also necessary to prepare for independent sitting.
Exercises to strengthen the muscles of the legs and learn to crawl are very useful. The child must be placed on a hard, but not slippery surface (for example, on a carpet) and the child should be allowed to feel the support with his heels. The hand of mom or dad can be a support. The baby will instinctively push off with its legs, as if trying to crawl. This exercise must be repeated daily.
Ways and methods of hardening
At four months, you can start regular hardening procedures that will allow the baby to always be healthy.
Parents began some elements of hardening from birth - these are air baths, bathing and walking in any weather. Now air baths should be continued for 10 minutes twice a day. The air temperature in the room during the procedure should not exceed 22 degrees Celsius.
The next important daily element of hardening should be a wet wipe. You need to start with dry rubdowns with a terry mitten for ten days. Since the skin of the child is very delicate, the procedure is carried out as carefully as possible. The baby's skin after wiping should be slightly reddened. After 10 days, you can start wet rubdowns with the same mittens, but soaked in warm water.
You need to start by rubbing the face of the crumbs, and gradually with each procedure you need to add the area of \u200b\u200bthe neck, arms, legs, back, and finally, the entire body of the child. The duration of a wet wipe is about 2 minutes. By lowering the water temperature (every 3 sessions) by one degree, you can bring it up to 30 degrees.
What should be the daily routine of a baby at 4 months (video)