BABY WATCH
Baby's skull
Baby's skull grows faster during the first 4 months
of life than at any other time during her lifetime.
At check-ups, your baby's doctor measures her head
to see her brain is developing normally. Baby's head
may have grown by an inch in the first month alone.
For the remainder part of the year average head growth
is about half an inch per month.
Baby's Hair
Your baby's hair may be changing in color, thickness
and texture. His baby hair is being replaced with
new hair that is more permanent. This process will
go on for a few weeks. Hair loss in certain spots
on your baby's head may indicate he is lying too much
in the same position. Friction on his scalp will cause
his hair to fall out too. Once baby is more mobile,
the balding spots will disappear.
Toys and Play
Roll Baby Roll:
Lay baby on the floor and gently roll him from side
to side or from stomach to back. If baby does not
roll on his own yet, play a game to help him along.
Lay baby on his back on the floor. Place a bright
toy or an interesting object to one side. If he turns
toward it, give him a gentle push to help him go all
the way over. Not only will baby enjoy, but this will
also help him develop the coordination to roll over
on his own.
Soapy Bubbles:
Now that your baby's vision is much better, you might
want to entertain him with soap bubbles. Busy some
or make your own using dish soap and water. Blow bubbles
using a straw or bubble wand but make sure it is away
from baby's face. He will enjoy watching the bubbles
drift slowly around the room. This exercise will also
help him practice tracking a moving object.
Touch tours:
Your four-month-old might enjoy touching as well as
looking. As you carry her around the house, pause
to let her feel things around the house such as the
bedspread, curtain fabrics, and water rushing over
her hands from the faucet. In a nice weather, take
her outdoors to feel the leaves, grass, rough tree
trunks. This is a good way to educate your baby on
different textures and about the names of different
objects.
