Newborn · Week 4 · Around 1–2 months
Your 4-Week-Old Baby
Around this age many babies reward you with first smiles and coos, and head control is getting stronger during tummy time.
Milestones describe common patterns, not deadlines. Every baby develops at their own pace.
Week 4 of 52
48 weeks until the first birthday
This shows time in the first year, not how your baby is developing.
This week at a glance
Movement
Stronger, steadier head lifts in tummy time.
Communication
First social smiles and coos may appear.
Feeding
Feeds may space out a little as your baby grows.
Sleep
One slightly longer night stretch may emerge.
These are common patterns for this stage, not requirements for this exact week.
Track this week
Note what you have noticed so far. “Not yet” is completely normal.
Development and milestones
Movement
- Lifts head during tummy time
- Smoother arm and leg movements
- Briefly holds head steadier
Thinking and understanding
- Follows a face or toy a short way
- Studies faces intently
Communication
- First social smiles
- Cooing sounds
Social and emotional development
- Enjoys being talked to
- Calms to familiar people
First smiles appear across a broad range. A baby who hasn't smiled socially yet can still be developing typically.
Feeding
Breast milk or infant formula provides all the nutrition your baby needs at this stage. Feed responsively — follow hunger and fullness cues rather than a fixed schedule.
- Feed on demand — breast, formula or a combination
- Watch hunger cues and count wet nappies
- Burp partway and after feeds if it helps
- Prepare formula safely, following the tin's instructions
- Solids are usually not needed before around 6 months
- No honey before 12 months
Feeding safety
- Hold your baby semi-upright for feeds
- Never prop a bottle
- Prepare and store formula safely
- Wind gently and watch for comfortable settling
Sleep
Common sleep pattern
Newborns sleep in short stretches around the clock — often 14–17 hours total, but rarely in long blocks.
Why sleep may change
- Day–night rhythm still settling
- Frequent feeds
- Growth spurts
- Needing help to settle
What may help
- A calm, dim environment for night feeds
- A gentle wind-down
- Watching short awake windows
- Skin-to-skin and gentle motion
Safe sleep reminder
- Place your baby on their back to begin sleep
- Use a firm, flat sleep surface
- Keep pillows, bumpers, toys and loose bedding out of the cot
Play and activities
Smile and pause
Supports: Social connection
Smile, talk, then pause for a response.
Safety: Keep it gentle and unhurried.
Tummy time
Supports: Head and neck strength
Short, frequent sessions while awake.
Safety: Always supervise.
Slow tracking
Supports: Visual skills
Move a high-contrast toy slowly side to side.
Safety: Keep it close.
Sing and sway
Supports: Listening and calm
Sing during alert moments.
Safety: Support the head.
Babyproof before the next step
Mobility safety matters a lot at this stage. A quick sweep now keeps new skills safe.
- Follow safe-sleep basics every sleep
- Support your baby's head and neck
- Keep a smoke-free environment
- Use a rear-facing car seat correctly
- Never shake a baby
Growth
Growth is a pattern, not a weekly target.
What matters most
- Weight, length and head circumference tracked over time
- Whether your baby keeps following their own growth pattern
- Feeding, energy and overall wellbeing
- Any sudden change in the growth curve
Percentiles are read alongside the overall pattern — not used to diagnose on their own.
Vaccinations to check
There is no universal vaccine assigned solely to Week 4. What is due depends on several things, so check your baby's record rather than assuming a schedule.
What is due depends on:
- Previous doses already given
- The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) schedule
- The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) schedule
- Your state programme
- Your paediatrician's guidance
- Any catch-up requirements
If you are signed in with a baby profile, your next recorded vaccine appears on your dashboard. Always confirm timing with your paediatrician.
When to contact a doctor
Seek urgent medical care
- Breathing difficulty or blue lips/face
- A fever in a young baby that worries you
- Baby is very difficult to wake or unusually floppy
- Persistent vomiting or refusing feeds
- Signs of severe dehydration
- A seizure or loss of consciousness
Discuss promptly with your paediatrician
- Not making eye contact or not turning to sounds
- Not feeding well or poor weight gain
- Very stiff or very floppy muscle tone
- Loss of a previously acquired skill
Loss of a previously acquired skill should be discussed promptly.
ParentVibes offers general information, not medical advice or diagnosis. If you are worried, contact your doctor.
What comes next
Coming next: Week 5
In the coming week you may notice more of the patterns below as your baby grows — every baby at their own pace.
You may notice
- Longer 'conversations' of coos and gurgles
- Reaching and batting at nearby toys
- Rolling practised during tummy time
One safety reminder
Never leave your baby unattended on a raised surface
One play idea
Smile, talk, then pause for a response.
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Helpful for this stage
Frequently asked questions
When do babies start smiling?
Social smiles often appear around 6–8 weeks, but the range is wide. Keep smiling and talking to your baby; mention it at a check-up if there are no social smiles by around 3 months.
How much tummy time does a 1–2 month old need?
A few short sessions a day, building up as neck strength grows. Always supervise and stop if your baby is upset.
Is it normal for feeds to change now?
Yes — feeding patterns shift as babies grow. Follow hunger cues and wet nappies, and check with your doctor if you're worried about intake or weight.
How many wet nappies should I expect?
Several wet nappies a day is a reassuring sign your baby is getting enough milk. Watch feeding, mood and nappies together, and speak to your doctor if wet nappies drop off or you're worried about intake.
Could my baby be teething?
Teething can start any time in the first year — drooling and gnawing are common. Offer a clean, safe teether; see your doctor for a high fever, which teething itself does not cause.
When is the next vaccination?
Vaccination timing depends on your baby's record and the schedule your paediatrician follows. Check the immunisation card and confirm the next date with your clinic.
Sources & references
Formal milestone and safety guidance comes from the organisations below. Week-level framing is ParentVibes's editorial interpretation — none of these organisations publishes a specific “week 4” standard.
Learn the Signs. Act Early. — milestone checklists
Supports: Month-based milestone framework (not week-by-week)
Visit source →A parent's guide to safe sleep (HealthyChildren.org)
Supports: Safe sleep recommendations
Visit source →Baby — feeding, sleep and development
Supports: Feeding, sleep and baby-care guidance
Visit source →Improving early childhood development
Supports: Early childhood development guidance
Visit source →Medically reviewed by Dr. Megha, MD, DNB (Paediatrics) · Last reviewed July 26, 2026
Reviewed for developmental, feeding, sleep and general-health accuracy. General information only — not a substitute for advice from your own paediatrician.
Read our editorial policy and medical disclaimer.