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Babies at 4 weeks are starting to experience some thrilling developments that bring to an end the first month. Some of the things you will observe at this stage are increased alertness, intense reflexes, and emerging personality. As routines begin to establish, you may be beginning to figure out the distinct needs and signs of your baby. One day, it can be feeding patterns, and the next day, sleep habits. This guide will walk you through what to expect and how to support your baby’s growth in week four.
4 Weeks Old Baby Development
Your baby is slowly coming out of the drowsy newborn stage and is becoming more receptive to the world at 4 weeks. You will begin to see more distinct awake times and a growing capability to communicate with their environment. Although all babies grow at a different rate, these are some of the changes that indicate healthy development- both physically and emotionally. The focus of this week is to find out their rhythms, establish relationships, and support their emerging curiosity in a nurturing way.
Emerging Skills
- Improved head control: Your baby might start lifting their head in short periods when they are put down on their tummy. However, tummy time is as essential as ever before to assist in strengthening the neck and upper body.
- More focused vision: Your baby now has eyesight as good as up to 12 inches and may begin making eye contact with you. Their favourite thing to look at is faces, yours in particular.
- Early social behaviors: Although smiles are usually mainly reflexive, this week, some infants began to share their first sincere social smiles, especially in response to familiar voices or gentle facial expressions.
- Increased alertness: Your baby might begin to wake up a little more between sleep and might also begin to show an interest in the world around them, such as turning their head to noises or tracking a moving object with their eyes in slow motion.
- More movement: You can also see your baby kicking and waving their arms more energetically. These movements are still uncoordinated, but they’re building the foundation for motor skills to come.
These small but meaningful changes are signs your baby is developing on track. Keep engaging with them through talking, holding, and cuddling—your loving attention is their favourite form of stimulation and security.
Diet & Feeding Schedule
At 4 weeks, your baby probably is eating every 2 to 4 hours, or even more often during growth spurts. Consistent feedings are necessary to aid their brain development, weight gain and well-being. No matter whether you are breastfeeding, pumping, or formula-feeding, the general idea of this phase is getting to know the rhythm of your baby and being able to react to their hunger signals.
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Look out for signs of hunger, such as rooting, sucking fingers, etc., and feed your baby on demand to help them grow and feel comfortable.
Sleeping
When your baby is 4 weeks old, they will probably sleep 14 to 17 hours a day, but in small intervals of 2 to 4 hours. Even though night sleep might start to extend a bit, your small one will continue waking up often to eat and be soothed. This disjointed sleep schedule is perfectly age-appropriate.
You can start by softly structuring a day-night cycle by ensuring that nighttime feedings are silent and low-key lit and daytime interactions a little more stimulating. It helps your baby gradually adjust their internal clock.
To promote safe and restful sleep:
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep
- Use a firm, flat sleep surface without loose blankets or pillows
- Swaddle only if your baby hasn’t started rolling and shows comfort in it
- Avoid co-sleeping in the same bed, but room-sharing is recommended.
Don’t worry if your baby still seems to nap randomly or fusses before settling down—it’s all part of adjusting to life outside the womb. Every baby develops their sleep rhythm over time.
Crying & Soothing
At 4 weeks old, crying remains the most powerful tool of communication used by your baby. It may be hunger, soreness, tiredness, overstimulation, or just the need to be held. Normally, crying may increase around this age, particularly in the late afternoon or evening so-called witching hour. This finickiness may reach its worst at 4 to 6 weeks of age and then slowly subside.
It may be tempting to think that something is wrong, but rest assured that severe crying does not indicate that something is wrong. It is a natural process of early development. Your infant is adapting to the external environment, and your positive reactions are assisting them to develop a sense of trust and safety.
Here are some gentle ways to soothe your baby:
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Hold your baby close in a soft carrier, like the Momcozy WeeSnug Newborn Baby Carrier. The cozy, womb-like environment and gentle motion can work wonders to calm a fussy baby while giving you some mobility.
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- Rock, sway or bounce gently in your arms or a glider chair. Rhythmic motion reminds your baby of being in the womb.
- Use white noise or soft shushing sounds, which mimic the sounds they heard during pregnancy and can be incredibly calming.
- Try a warm bath, which may help soothe tension and relax their tiny body.
- Offer skin-to-skin contactor a pacifier if they find sucking comforting.
Bowels
At 4 weeks, your baby is beginning to have more predictable bowel movements - but what is normal varies widely. Babies may poop once after each feeding, or they can go a day or two without pooping, particularly when they are exclusively breastfed.
Breastfed infants usually pass soft, mustard-yellow poops that are seedy in texture, whereas formula-fed infants can have slightly harder, tan or brown bowel movements. Both are normal, provided your baby is growing in weight and appears comfortable.
Here’s what to keep an eye on:
- Color: Yellow, green and brown are usually okay. A red, black or white stool should make you call your pediatrician.
- Consistency: It should be soft. Hard, pellet-like stools could indicate constipation.
- Frequency: Varies by baby. If your little one hasn’t pooped in more than two days and seems fussy or uncomfortable, check in with your pediatrician.
Bathing
Bathing a 4-week-old infant can be a lovely, soothing experience, but it does not have to be done daily. Twice or thrice a week is normally sufficient to keep your baby clean since their sensitive skin is not yet so dirty. In between these days, you can give them a quick sponge bath to clean their face, neck folds, hands and diaper area.
When the umbilical cord stump of your baby has already healed and dropped off, you may now start giving your baby gentle tub baths. A baby bath or a clean sink with a soft liner is good. Make sure the room is comfortably warm, and use tepid water (about 98/100 o F / 37/38 C). Always test the water with your wrist or inner arm before placing your baby in.
Here are some tips to make bath time safe and soothing:
- Prepare everything in advance—baby wash, washcloths, towel, clean diaper, and clothes, so you do not have to leave the baby.
- When holding your baby, always support the head and neck area by holding firmly but gently.
- Apply a gentle, unscented cleanser and restrict usage so as not to dry the skin. Sometimes, the water is sufficient.
- Talk softly or sing to reassure them. The sound of your voice and your calm presence help them feel secure.
- Limit the bath to 5–10 minutes, and immediately wrap your baby in a warm towel afterwards—especially focusing on drying skin folds to prevent irritation.
Bathtime can also be a beautiful way to signal winding down before bedtime. Many babies find the warm water and gentle touch relaxing, helping them transition to sleep more easily. Over time, it may even become a cherished part of your daily routine together.
Common Ailments
At 4 weeks old, your baby is still adjusting to life outside the womb, and, normally, they experience minor health problems. Most of these issues are temporary, and they get resolved on their own with conservative care and observation.
Here are some of the most common ailments you might encounter:
- Gas and fussiness: Your baby is still developing a digestive system, which can create gas and fussiness. Bicycle leg exercises, tummy time, and holding your baby in an upright position after feeds will ease the pain.
- Spit-up (reflux): Spit-up may be anticipated in small amounts, especially after a feeding. In the majority of cases, there is no need to worry about it when your baby grows well and does not seem to be irritated by it. After feeding, hold them upright at 20-30 degrees for 20-30 minutes and burp them a lot.
- Diaper rash: The sensitive skin and multiple bowel movements may irritate the skin. Apply a mild barrier ointment, frequent diaper changes, and give diaper-free air time when possible.
- Baby acne: Tiny red or white bumps may appear on your baby’s cheeks, nose, or forehead. It is normal and typically goes away on its own in a few weeks—no treatment is needed.
- Nasal congestion: Newborns often sound stuffy, even when they’re not sick. A saline spray and a gentle nasal aspirator can help clear their tiny airways.
Never ignore your instincts. If your baby is below 3 months of age and has a fever above 100.4 F (38 C), will not feed, is too sleepy or cranky, or just something that does not look right, do not wait to call your pediatrician.
FAQs
What can newborns see at 4 weeks?
Your baby is still developing eyesight at 4 weeks. Their eyesight is good, only up to 8-12 inches, which is convenient since they need to look at your face when they are being fed or cuddled. They may start to notice high-contrast patterns and slow-moving objects and make short-term tracking of the movement. You may even observe them turn in the direction of familiar voices or light.
Can 4-week-old babies smile?
Yes, at about 4 weeks, some babies will start to display early signs of a social smile- a smile in reaction to a familiar face or soft voice. These smiles differ as compared to reflexive ones observed in newborns and signify a lovely stage of social and emotional development. There is no need to stress about it if your baby is not smiling yet; all children grow at their own pace.
How long can a 4-week-old go between feedings?
Most 4-week-old babies feed within 2 to 4 hours, even at night. Infants who are breastfed may feed more frequently than those who are formula-fed, especially during growth spurts. As long as your baby is growing well, making adequate wet/dirty diapers, and appears contented following feedings, then chances are they are receiving what they require. Some babies may sleep slightly later in the night, but it is still usual to wake up to normal feedings.
Conclusion
By the time your baby reaches 4 weeks, it is a discovery every day, on their part and yours. Your babies are getting better acquainted with their surroundings, with more directed looks and the first signs of social smiles. These early days seem to pass so quickly, even though they are long. Enjoy the cuddles, rejoice in the achievements and believe that you are doing a fantastic job.
