How to Stimulate a 4-Month-Old's Physical Development

Video Transcript

"You have a 4 month old baby, and you're wanting to continue working on his or her physical development. Hi, I'm Dr. Donna, and I want to give you some helpful hints on how to do that. Babies love to move around and to be lift up, and just, not jostled, but just bouncing up and down; make sure you support them. You can bounce them on your legs to music, to sounds, whatever, they love it. Move them side to side. I love the beach balls. Get a beach ball, continue working on upper body strength, head, neck control. Some babies at this point might be sitting up, some may not. This is a wonderful way to encourage them to lift their head, and rock side to side gentle. Also, put them sitting up on it. Again, be careful when you're spotting them, that you hold them up, under their arms. Some babies are stronger, and you might be able to move down. Just rock them side to side, front to back. Sing while you're doing it, they'll really enjoy it. Also, take the opportunity to use some of these wonderful toys that everybody has given you for baby gifts. Put them on their tummy, and prop their arms up, under. Let them reach and grab for a toy, just put it slightly out of their reach. If they're sitting, sit the baby up, and also put the toys just out of the reach, see if they'll move, and reach and grab for them. A scarf is a wonderful prop to use, you can get a bandana. Just move the scarf around, see if your baby will reach and grab for it. Take the scarf, maybe put him on your lap, and take it, and just pull the scarf through, let them feel that sensation. All kinds of props that you have at home you can just use. Again, put instruments in their hands, let them shake them, let them cross mid-line. Also, at this point, if your baby is not rolling over, you want to work on doing the technique to help them. Take their knee, bend it, cross it over the mid-line, slightly push their leg down, and they should start to roll over, help support them. You wan to do it in both directions. Continue taking their legs back and forth, and around. Also taking arms, and crossing mid-line. Help them to sit up, just take their hands, (baby doll doesn't do it as well) and help them to sit up by pulling. I hope those are some helpful tips. I'm Dr. Donna, good luck."