I

Quick view of your

4-5 Month Old Skills

Zerwekh, J.C. (2010). Health Implications Across

the Lifespan. In Illustrated study guide for the
NCLEX-RN exam (7th ed., pp.23 28). St. Louis,
MO: Mosby

Infants
4-5
Months Old

Months

Grasping objects with both hands

Infants 4-5

Can switch objects from one hand to the

other

May roll over for the first time

Starting to become more playful and

wanting play time

Silvestri, L.A. (2014). Saunders Comprehensive

Review for the NCLEX-RN examination (6th ed.,
pp. 248-251). MO: Elsevier

Begin to become
aware if they are in a
new place

Begin to show
memories for the first time

Wong, D.L.,Hockenberry, M.J., &Wilson, D.

(2011). Health Promotion of the Infant and Family.
In Wongs nursing care of infants and children (9th
ed., pp. 464-497). St. Louis, MO: Mosby/Elsevier

Note:

All children are different and develop at

different rates. So if your child does not
do all the things in this topic, it may be

because your child is working on some

different area of his learning and development at present.

Prepared by:

However, children usually follow the

same pattern of development. If your
child is very different from other

children, are worried about your

child's development, or if it seems to

go backwards, you should talk to a
health professional.

Catherine Peace
Giang An Nguyen

GROWTH
AND
DEVELOPMENT
MILESTONES

4 Month Old

Drooling begins around this age

Has almost full control of head when

picked up, and balances head well when
sitting

Can sit upright if propped

Rolls from back to side

Able to raise head and chest up if lying

on belly

Plays with hands, can grasp objects with

both hands if given but if reached for
overshoots the object

Games to play

May have small spots on gums where tooth is

coming in

Play with brightly colored toys that are

small enough for the infant to hold

Full control of head when being picked up

When lying on back the arms come out fully

on both sides

Talk and repeat sounds your infant makes

Rattles and noise makers for the infant to

hold

Play splashing games in the bath tub

Play bouncing games while holding the

infant in your lap

Have tummy time games

Can turn from

stomach to back

Make constant single letter sounds and

can now laugh
aloud

Demands
attention and
gets cranky if
left alone

Can now grab

objects within reach
using the palms of the
hands and not the
fingers

Plays with toes

Takes all objects in hands straight to the

mouth

Holds one object while looking at a second

one

Can visually follow dropped objects

Squeals and makes cooing sounds such as ah

-goo

Smiles at self in mirror

Knows the
bottle or breast means it is time to eat

Loves to play but can have mood swings

quickly

Shows excitement with whole body by

squealing and breathing heavily

May cry or squeal when an object is taken

away

Knows strangers from family and regular visitors

5 Month old