What most children are doing around 4 months
These are milestones most children — 75 percent or more — can do by this age, from the CDC’s 2022 “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” checklists, with Canadian guidance from the Canadian Paediatric Society. Think of it as a picture of typical, not a finish line. Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
This isn’t a quiz, and there’s nothing to score. You can’t fail it and neither can your child. It’s a way to enjoy noticing what’s emerging — and to know what tends to come next.
Social and emotional
- smiles on their own to get your attention
- chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make them laugh
- looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention
Language and communication
- makes sounds like "oooo" and "aahh" (cooing)
- makes sounds back when you talk to them
- turns their head towards the sound of your voice
Cognitive — learning and problem-solving
- if hungry, opens their mouth when they see a breast or bottle
- looks at their hands with interest
Movement and physical
- holds their head steady without support when you are holding them
- holds a toy when you put it in their hand
- uses their arm to swing at toys
- brings their hands to their mouth
- pushes up onto their elbows and forearms when on their tummy
Every child is different
All children develop skills at different times — the Canadian Paediatric Society notes it’s normal for a child to be ahead in some areas and still emerging in others at the same time. A child who took their first steps “late” and one who took them “early” usually both end up running around the playground. If your child was born early, look at their corrected age: their actual age minus the weeks they arrived early.
Canadian Paediatric Society — child developmentWhen it’s worth a chat with your provider
You know your child best — that’s the CDC’s own starting point. It’s worth mentioning to your child’s doctor or nurse practitioner if: your child isn’t meeting one or more of the milestones on their age’s list; your child has lost skills they once had (this one matters at any age); or something just feels off to you — a parent’s concern is reason enough.
None of these mean something is wrong. They mean a conversation is useful, because if support is ever needed, earlier is easier. What to ask for: a developmental screening (routinely recommended around 9, 18, and 30 months, with autism screening at 18 and 24 months); if concerns remain, a referral to a specialist; and in Canada, your provincial or territorial early-intervention or child-development program — you don’t need to wait for a diagnosis to ask.
CDC — Concerned About Your Child's Development?