4-8 Months: Learning About Me - Milestones

1. Expresses feelings.

Babies become very adept at letting you know how they feel about things, even when you are not paying attention. Babies are able to recognize basic emotions, in others by their facial expressions or tone of voice, and can demonstrate those emotions too. In play with adults as well as with children, babies respond with giggles and laughter, or show frustration or fearfulness. They show you their preferences and interests by the sounds they make, their facial expressions, and their actions. For example:

Developing as expected, they might:

• smile and giggle when someone plays a game of peekaboo with them
• fuss and whine when they are tired of lying still on the changing table
• wrinkle their face when fed a new food that isn't familiar
• look worried when they hear a loud noise, such as a balloon popping or the vacuum running
• act wary, or curious, when a new person comes into the room
• smile and laugh when someone plays silly games with them, such as ducking his head or pretending to sneeze
• reach toward someone nearby when they want to get a hug or to be held

Needing development, they might:

• not notice or respond when someone tries to play a game of peekaboo
• look at and reach toward a new toy, but pull back when it is offered to them
• reach to be picked up, then fuss and cry to get back down
• not respond to people clapping to show approval when they have demonstrated a new skill

2. Learning to cope with familiar and unfamiliar situations.

Babies can't control their feelings yet. They are just learning consistent ways to express some of their feelings. Basically, they are happy people, especially when someone is paying attention to and playing with them. But they howl and otherwise complain when they don't get their way. Babies are responsive to their caregivers' ways of helping them manage their feelings when the caregivers play soft music, rock them, sing a song, or read a book, or give them a toy to play with. For example:

Developing as expected, they might:

• look to a familiar person for a positive nod or encouraging word before playing with a new toy
• gum and swallow a spoonful of familiar food, but spit out a new food
• fall asleep easily at home, but need a caregiver's presence and perhaps some rocking before settling down in a new place
• look fearful and cling in their parent's arms when entering a store or a home where there seems to be a lot of unfamiliar activity
• settle easily when able to hold a favorite blanket or stuffed toy when in a strange situation

Needing development, they might:

• respond with fear to new things and people
• not fall asleep in a new place even when held and rocked
• be fearful and clingy in most situations except at home and at Grandma's, where they stay each day
• be frightened of a new toy that makes a noise