Developmental Milestones at 2 months and 4 months

2 months

  • Calms down when picked up or spoken to
  • Looks at your face.
  • Seems happy/ excited when you talk to him/ her
  • Smiles when you smile at him/ her
  • Cries when wet, hungry or wants to be held
  • Reacts to (loud) sounds/ voices from people
  • Starts making “ahh”, “oooo” sounds
  • Make sounds and cry
  • Maintained eye-to-eye contact
  • Watches as you move around him/ her
  • Looks at and follow a target object/ person (e.g. toys/ bottle) for 2-3 seconds
  • Holds head up/ turns to sides when lying on tummy
  • Whilst laying on back, he/she waves arms and legs
  • Opens hands (palms)

4 months

  • Smiles on his/her own to get your attention.
  • Chuckles when you try to make him/ her laugh
  • Looks at you/ makes sounds/moves arms and legs to gain your attention
  • Smiles or gets excited when they see you again after being out of sight
  • Makes “oooo” or “ahh” sounds
  • Makes sounds back when you talk to him/ her
  • Turns head towards the sound of the (parents/ caregivers) your voice
  • Opens mouth when approaching mother’s breast/ bottle if he/ she is hungry
  • Looks at his/her hand with interest
  • Holds head up straight without support when being held
  • Holds head up straight and looks around when laying on tummy
  • Brings hands together and touching their fingers when laying on back
  • Pushes up onto elbow and forearms when on tummy
  • Holds a toy/ object when it is put in his/her hand
  • Attempts to chew the chew the toy in his/her hands
  • Uses his/her hand to shake toys
  • Brings hands to his/her mouth

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Bjorklund, D. F. (2022). Children′ s thinking: Cognitive development and individual differences. Sage publications.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). CDC’s Developmental Milestones. doi: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html/.

HealthHub. (n.d.). Is My Child Development Normally?. DOI: https://www.healthhub.sg/

Malik F, Marwaha R. Developmental Stages of Social Emotional Development In Children. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL); 2022. PMID: 30521240.

NHS. (n.d.) Child Development Milestones. doi: https://www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk/advice/staying-safe/childhood-development/milestones/.

Smet. N & Lucas. C.A. (2015). Occupational Therapy View of Child Development. In J Case-Smith & J.C. O’Brien. (2015). Occupational therapy for children and adolescents. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.

SBCC. (2022). Developmental milestone checklist. doi: https://www.sbcc.sg/developmental-milestone-checklist/.