4 month well baby visit - should I be concerned? -UPDATE

amother

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 6:51 am

The doctor told me that she should be turning over, back to front and front to back.
She's not doing any of those.
Otherwise she's doing great bh, smiling, babbling, grabbing, and she's a content baby bh Smile

She also told me to start introducing solids, and I'd rather wait for her to be 6 months old.
She's nursing well, growing nicely, so I see no reason to start supplementing so early.
Would love to hear from other experienced moms

amother

Crimson

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 7:01 am

4 months? Whoa early! My babies (gigantic fat pudgies) don’t move till 8 months. Which is late, but not crazy late. Don’t worry, 4 months is super early.
About the solids- don’t drop a feeding to replace it with solids. You can give her a teeny taste of something on your finger when you’re eating. Maybe that’s what your doctor meant? That it’s safe to do that if you want to. 4 months is early to give a full solid meal.

#Happymom

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 7:04 am

Hi!
Rolling over is a real 'every baby is different' kind of thing, some babies will do it at 6 weeks, and some not til 6 months, but whatever your baby does is fine, it does not mean anything. Altho by 6 months, a baby should really be rolling over.
You wrote that your baby is grabbing which is great, and babbling which is great. Talking and moving are 2 diff areas in the brain, so sometimes a baby that moves alot, will babble much less, bec generally one area in the brain will develop first.
And abt solids, in the uk, they say only from 6 months, thats normally when a baby is ready for it. Look out for your baby trying to take your food and watching you eat.
Hatzlocha!

esther7

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 7:14 am

Was your doctor happy with her development otherwise? Can she lift her head when lying on her tummy? I'm not a doctor but personally, unless it's seemed like there was low muscle tone, I wouldn't be concerned. Neither of my kids were rolling by 4 months. Just try to make sure that you are giving your baby tummy time to strengthen the necessary muscles, and let her play on the floor lying down on her back, so she gets a chance to move around, stretch and reach out for toys, which will eventually lead to rolling.
Re solids, I was told my my pediatrician that 6 months is fine - in the USA that's the current recommendation I believe. If as you said, she is eating well and gaining weight appropriately, I don't think you have to rush to give solids if you don't want to.
As an aside, if you are ever unsure of, or uncomfortable with something that the doctor advises, a good doctor would usually be happy to discuss it further and answer these kind of questions. It's good to have a doctor that you can have that type of relationship with, though I know not always so easy to find Confused

But sounds like your baby is doing great kah!

amother

Tangerine

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 7:28 am

Your doctor sounds very old fashioned. I haven't heard any doctor recommend solids before 6 months unless there were extenuating circumstances.
With the rolling too, 4 months is like a textbook baby but no reason to worry for a long time.

amother

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 7:31 am

I have an amazing pediatrician for my kids bh, she knows my kids and is really kind.
This is the doctor in Tipat chalav (only well baby, vaccines..)
She's an older Russian doctor, that's why I'm double checking with my trusty imamother pals Smile

Success10

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 7:41 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Does the doctor also work through the kupah?

Tipat Chalav are a bit machmir in their opinions and deadlines for babies. I think they need to be, since otherwise some ignorant parents just won't be on top of proper nutrition and development.

Maybe she wasn't saying your child "should" be doing these things now, just asking if she's there yet, and letting you know she should be soon. Also, you can start experimenting with solids at this age, a small taste to get your baby used to it. Maybe that's what she meant as well?

teachkids

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 7:41 am

4 months is on the early end for rolling. Don’t worry about it.

We started solids at 4 months because baby was drinking tons of formula and sitting up and interested in food. Anywhere between 4-6 months is normal.

silverlining3

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 7:55 am

Many babies by 4 months turn from front to back already, but I think it's quite early. Really, every baby is different. Solids, a mom knows best! I wouldn't be concerned.

My babies don't turn from back to front until a late age. They're all perfectly fine and healthy bh. And solids I started every baby different time. Earliest I started was by 4 months and latest was arnd by 8 months.

amother

Aquamarine

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 8:06 am

If you’re breastfeeding the AAP recommends exclusive BF until six months. I usually follow baby’s cues as to when they’re ready: I.e. staring at you when you eat, trying to grab food off your plate, etc.

Not rolling over yet isn’t a concern. But by four months there shouldn’t be any head lag. When you pull her up from her back to a sitting position she should be able to keep her head up without it rolling back.

amother

Coral

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 8:40 am

My baby just started rolling from back to belly at 7 months Can't Believe It

There is a huge variation of normal - your baby is fine!
Also 4 months is very early to give solids. Unless you have a specific reason for why your baby needs it so early, hold off until 6 months please!

amother

Azure

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 10:44 am

My baby was rolling over at 4 months but that’s considered early. Babies develop at their own pace. Please don’t start solids before 6 months. You can but if the baby isn’t showing signs of interest it will most likely backfire on you. Either way if she’s gaining nicely there is no reason to.

amother

Slategray

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 10:50 am

Part of the well visit is checking for developmental milestones. But there is a range of normal for each milestone. So if your baby is not on the early end, it’s fine. The doctor was just checking in. Make sure you are giving tummy time. And if baby is happy with just nursing no need to start solids, but some babies are ready at 4 months.

amother

Cyan

Sun, Jul 19 2020, 10:51 am

Just make sure she is getting tummy time and being stimulated but it sounds like she is doing just fine.

Also, starting solids can bring on a period for some mothers. So if you are nursing clean and want to keep it that way it's just something to take into account before you rush into giving baby foods.