Your 4-month-old's development: Week 3

A barrel of laughs

Even though crying is still your baby's strongest form of communication, he's also developing his sense of humor during his fifth month. He may start to laugh at pleasant surprises such as your face appearing from underneath a blanket or a toy popping out of a box, provided it isn't too loud or startling.

Encourage your baby's laughs, giggles, and smiles with funny faces and lots of general silliness. Babies enjoy hearing a variety of sounds and you don't need special toys or instruments to provide them. Simply click your tongue, whistle, or make animal noises — your baby will love it!

Exploring objects

Encourage your baby to experiment and play with a variety of objects. Something as simple as a clean cloth diaper might occupy him for several minutes. Watch him suck on it, hold it, and discover what happens when he scrunches it up.

Give him a light rattle and see him delight in the sound it makes when he shakes it. An activity center or crib gym is a good choice for this stage, as your baby begins to explore the cause and effect of moving a lever and hearing a bell ring, for instance.

Appreciation for a full range of colors

Babies see color from birth, but they have difficulty distinguishing similar tones, such as red and orange. (Babies can tell the difference between very different colors such as red, green, and yellow.) As a result, younger babies often prefer black and white or high-contrast patterns.

At your baby's age, color differences become clearer, and your baby has started to distinguish between similar shades. Present him with a variety of colors in books, toys, and clothing.

Remember, your baby is an individual

All babies are unique and meet milestones at their own pace. Developmental guidelines simply show what your baby has the potential to accomplish — if not right now, then soon. If your baby was premature, keep in mind that kids born early usually need a bit more time to meet their milestones. If you have any questions at all about your baby's development, ask your healthcare provider.

source: babycenter

Your 4-month-old: Week 3

How your baby's growing:

Even though crying is still your baby's strongest form of communication, he's also beginning to develop a sense of humor. He may start to laugh at pleasant surprises, such as your face appearing from underneath a blanket or a toy popping out of a box, provided it isn't too loud or startling.

Encourage your baby's laughs, giggles, and smiles with funny faces and lots of general silliness. Babies enjoy hearing a variety of sounds, and you don't need special toys or instruments to create them. Simply click your tongue, whistle, or make animal noises — your baby will love it!

• Learn more fascinating facts about your 4-month-old's development.

Your life: Pumping breast milk

Many working moms find that they're able to continue breastfeeding by taking pumping breaks while on the job. Doing so helps maintain your milk supply and provides breast milk for bottle feedings. But it can be hard to get the hang of it, especially at first. Some tips to make pumping at work easier:

Practice at home. Get used to your pump, and pumping, before you head back to work. Many working moms choose an electric double pump — these allow you to efficiently empty both breasts at once — but there are other options. Consider pumping accessories that can make your life easier, like a hands-free pumping bra, microwavable disinfecting bags for your pump parts, and breast milk storage bags. Think, too, about how you'll keep your expressed milk cold while you're at work. If your workplace doesn't have a fridge you can use, you'll need a freezer bag and cold packs.

Let your supervisor know your plans. Many workplaces set aside a private place for pumping. If your workplace doesn't — and you don't have an office with a door — you'll probably want to arrange a special pumping spot.

Plan to pump at the same time and place at work every day. If possible, try for every three hours to keep your milk supply up. Remember to keep well hydrated between sessions.

Relax to improve letdown. This can be the hardest part. Some moms like to hold a baby photo or something that smells like their baby to get in the right frame of mind. Recalling a favorite lullaby that you sing to your baby or visualizing your baby nursing can also help.

3 questions about: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

What is RSV?
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, causes coldlike symptoms during the winter months. It's not a dangerous virus in itself, but it can lead to ear infections, bronchiolitis (infection of the small airways, called bronchioles), pneumonia, or later development of asthma or other respiratory problems. Almost every baby contracts it before age 2, but it can be especially dangerous for babies under 6 months old, babies with underlying medical problems, and premature infants, whose immune systems are weaker.

How can I tell if my baby has RSV?
Your baby may appear to have a mild cold, but then a few days later, his cough gets worse and his breathing becomes labored. This is because the virus has infected the bronchioles, causing them to swell and produce more mucus, which can plug up your baby's airway and make it harder to breathe. Signs that your baby may have a serious infection include flaring his nostrils, excessively expanding his rib cage, tightening his abdominal muscles, grunting when breathing, wheezing (a high-pitched whistling sound) when breathing, quickened breathing (more than 60 breaths per minute), bluish lips or nails, and feeding problems.

What should I do if I think my baby has RSV?
Call your baby's doctor. She may want you to bring your baby to the office to have his breathing and oxygen checked. Your doctor may recommend a breathing treatment with an inhaled bronchodilator medicine, which helps some babies breathe easier. Because RSV is a virus, antibiotics are of no use, but you can help relieve your baby's symptoms at home. Keep your baby well hydrated and away from smoke and fumes, which can make compromised breathing even more difficult. Some babies will prefer smaller, more frequent feedings, since it may be hard for them to breathe and suck at the same time. Try easing labored breathing with saline nose drops and a bulb syringe (to loosen and remove mucus from the nose), a cool-mist vaporizer, or some method of keeping your baby's head elevated a little when he sleeps (such as a towel under his crib mattress, but not a pillow under his head). You can give your baby acetaminophen if he has a fever, but don't use any other medications without your doctor's advice. The doctor may recommend that premature infants and babies born with lung or heart disease receive a series of shots during the RSV season that, like the flu shot, help protect against the virus.

source: babycenter