Doctor's Corner: Baby Development Milestones

Learn some of the key baby development milestones with Dr. Alexis Missick MBChB. MRCGP and UK Meds.

She'll explain the crucial milestones at 4, 6 weeks and 3 months, covering topics such as:

• Improved head control to those adorable smiles

• How parents can foster physical and cognitive growth

• Your little one's feeding habits

• Nappy changes

• Changes to their sleep schedules

• Other essential health considerations such as vaccinations

Empower yourself to nurture your little one whilst also taking care of your own well-being during this transformative stage of life!

What physical developments should we notice when a baby reaches certain months/weeks milestones and what can parents do to help develop them? 

At 4 months we should notice improved head control where they hold their head steady without support, they should be able to bring their hands to their mouth, hold a toy when placed in their hand, attempt to get a toy (by swinging their arm at it) and begin to push up on their arms or elbow during tummy time. Parents can help by giving tummy time and by playing games such as giving them colourful, attractive, or noisy toys that they can try to reach for a hold.  

At 6 weeks, babies will open their hands briefly, they’ll move both arms and legs, start holding their head up when on their tummy and make facial movements like smiles. Parents can help by going in front of them when they are on tummy time, this will encourage them to raise their head. 

What cognitive milestones should babies be reaching around this time and what can parents do to help develop them?

At 4 months babies look at their hands with interest; the movement, shape, sensation. They also open their mouths if hungry when they see bottles or breasts in front of them. Parents can help by following cues. 

At 6 weeks, their hearing and vision has improved significantly so they are able to watch people as they move, differentiate them from others, and look at a toy for several seconds.

How often should a baby be feeding at certain months/weeks milestones?

At 4 months, babies usually take 4-6 ounces every 3-4 hours while at 6 weeks, the frequency is about the same but the amount is slightly reduced to 4-5 ounces as tolerated. Parents should follow baby's hunger cues

How often should a baby need their nappy changed at certain months/weeks milestones? 

At 4 months babies can have up to 10 nappy changes a day.

 At 6 weeks this number increased to up to 12 nappies a day. 

How much should a baby be sleeping at certain months/weeks milestones? What might their sleep schedule look like and what is normal or abnormal at this stage? 

At 4 months, babies get about 8-16 hours of sleep in 24 hours. This comprises 11-12 hours at night and during the day 3-4 naps lasting 1- 2 hours. The naps should ideally not last more than 2 hours. Shorter sleep times at night broken by periods longer than needed for a feed may indicate a growth spurt or other concerns depending on if there are any additional complaints. 

At 6 weeks babies sleep 15-16 hours in 24 hours. Night-time sleep tends to have more increments of feeding periods than later months. There is also more daytime sleeping in the early weeks.

What health or safety issues should parents be thinking about at certain months/weeks milestones including any vaccinations, common problems that can arise at this time etc. 

At 2 and 4 months babies are due vaccines.  Some babies are given their 2-month (8-week) dose of the vaccine at 6 weeks during their postnatal check with their mum. At 4 months, babies are also given rotavirus vaccines. Rotavirus vaccines protect against the virus which is responsible for vomiting and diarrheal illness at these ages. 

What can parents do at this stage (particularly mum) to look after themselves, their own health and wellness as well as prepare for the next stage of baby's life. 

At this stage, support for mum is always helpful as a means of an outlet to talk to  and unburden themselves but also for respite as the growth spurts and irritability caused by colic. Challenges with wake periods at night and teething experienced at these stages can be emotionally taxing on mothers.

Video: Looking After Yourself as a Parent

The Parenting Space NHS have created a helpful video to explain why looking after yourself as a new parent is vital in helping you to look after your new baby. You can watch the video below where other parents of newborn babies share their experiences and helpful tips:

What physical developments should we notice when the baby reaches 3 months?

At 3 months babies will have better head control and when sitting they may start to hold their head up. During tummy time, they may attempt to roll from front to back, left their heads or use their hands to push up their chest. 

Video: 3 Month Baby Development Milestones

Emma's Diary have created a helpful video to outline the key baby development milestones to look out for in your little one at 3 months old. You can watch it below:

What cognitive milestones should babies be reaching around this time and what can parents do to help develop them?

At 3 months babies are able to recognise familiar faces and objects even from a distance.  They pay more attention to body parts like mouth, feet, fingers and toes.

Parents can help give babies tummy time, by laying in front of them and enjoying some of the movements.  

How often should babies be feeding at certain months/weeks milestones? 

At 3 months, babies may feed up to 8 times in a day, especially breastfeed babies. Bottle fed babies feed a bit less but roughly every 3-4 hours. 

How often should babies need their nappy changed at certain months/weeks milestones? 

At 3 months babies may have nappy changes from 8 to 12 times a day. 

How much should a baby be sleeping at certain months/weeks milestones? What might their sleep schedule look like and what is normal or abnormal at this stage? 

At 3 months a baby may sleep 14-17 hours a day, with fewer daytime naps than at age 6 weeks; usually about 2-3 naps a day. 

What health or safety issues should parents be thinking about at certain months/weeks milestones including any vaccinations, common problems that can arise at this time etc. 

At 3 months there are no specific vaccines but it may be a time for catch up vaccines if it hasn’t already happened. 

Are child and baby treatments available to buy online?

Yes. if you need treatments to help your baby there's a great range of child and baby treatments available to buy online at UK Meds.

Medically Reviewed by:
Dr. Alexis Missick MBChB. MRCGP
GMC reference no: 7151419
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Sources

3 month old baby: Development, growth and milestones - Mother & Baby

4 month old baby: Development, growth and milestones - Mother & Baby