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21 Best Activities For 4-Month-Olds At Home (2025)

Kingsley and Aurora playing
seen in: national geographic, cnn, travel + leisure, new york times
the guardian, lonely planet, usa today, forbes
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If you have a 4-month-old at home, you’re likely amazed at how far your little one has come in such a short time. They’re more in control of their body now – they can probably hold up their head without support. Some of them may even be starting to smile and laugh and babble.
Try out these fun, easy activities we have listed below as a way to bond with your baby and help them keep crushing those milestones.

Also check out our free activities for four-month-olds towards the bottom of the page for extra ideas that won’t break the bank.

aurora on a balance bike
Our toddler, Aurora, practicing on her balance bike.

Please note: due to unusually high demand, a lot of these products are selling out fast! 🙁

21 Engaging Activities For 4-Month-Olds

  • 1. Entertain Baby While Traveling

    Did you forget to bring a toy for your baby during your trip to the grocery store? These soft animal companions clip right onto the baby’s car seat so you’re never without a toy to keep them occupied. Whether you have a long commute or just want your little one to have some stimulation as they join you on errands, these plush pals are the perfect solution.

    Entertain Baby While Traveling

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 2. Make Tummy Time Fun with Prop-A-Pillar

    Most 4-month-olds require tummy time throughout the day to help strengthen their neck muscles and prepare them for crawling. If your baby’s anything like mine, they hate tummy time. Fortunately, this adorable caterpillar plush is here to help. Multiple configurations make it easy to engage in interactive tummy time, modified tummy time and assisted sitting!

    Tummy Time Fun

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 3. Keep Baby Safe with a Baby Bathtub

    Remember when your baby was so small you bathed them in the sink? Now they seem to be growing by the day! Get a baby bathtub that will grow with them. This whale tub comes with a detachable seat – leave it in as extra support for your 4-month-old. When they have better body control and can sit without assistance, detach the seat to create a bigger toddler tub.

    Baby Bathtub

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 4. Make Teething Tolerable with Teether Toys

    While most babies won’t get their first tooth until closer to six months, many of them start teething long before then. Babies stick everything in their mouth, so why not get them something designed for exactly that? These teethers come in the shape of assorted fruits and have different colors and textures to keep the baby engaged and to soothe those sore gums. Pop them in the fridge or freezer so they’re nice and cool when you give them to your little.

    Tolerable with Teether Toys

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 5. Safely Introduce Solid Foods

    Your four-month-old is likely not ready to begin a full transition to solid food, but these Fresh Food Feeders can be a great way to introduce some early new tastes. Fill each one with a fruit or vegetable puree, then pop in the freezer. When frozen solid, give to your baby. With a shape and structure similar to a pacifier, your tot should understand what to do. These will also come in handy later when your baby struggles with teething.

    Safely Introduce Solid Foods

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 6. Give Baby a Safe Place to Explore

    At this age, mobility is still limited, but your baby still needs a safe place to spend their time. Try this engaging activity pad! With a multitude of different configurations, it’s perfect for playing on their back or doing tummy time. When they’re a little older, another set-up turns this play mat into a tiny ball pit for your tiny human – balls included!

    Give Baby a Safe Place to Explore

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 7. Stimulate the Senses with Socks and Rattlers

    With such limited mobility, it can sometimes be difficult to find ways for baby to play while lying down. These socks come with colorful plush animals on both feet and are designed to help hone baby’s hand-eye coordination. Kick things up a notch by placing the included rattles around baby’s wrists so they can hear the noise as they reach for their feet.

    Socks and Rattlers

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 8. Improve Hand-Eye Coordination

    This toy is perfect for little babies to hone their gross motor skills. Its brightly colored loops are easy to grab and the center portion rattles with movement. Move the toy across baby’s vision to help them develop their tracking abilities or leave baby to explore the colorful creation on their own. The soft loops are perfect for teething babies and are BPA-free. Toss in the fridge for additional relief.

    Hand-Eye Coordination

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 9. Practice Teeth Brushing

    Your little one may not have any teeth at this age, but pediatricians say it’s never too early to start practicing good dental hygiene! These baby toothbrushes come in an array of shapes and colors to keep baby engaged. Designed for dental care, these adorable brushes are perfectly safe for baby to chew on. Try brushing their gums with a wet brush (no toothpaste needed) to help soothe any sore spots. My little one loves her banana toothbrush – she reaches for it every morning when she sees me brushing my teeth.

    Practice Teeth Brushing

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 10. Build Muscle Tone and Strength

    With limited mobility and less-than-perfect head control, little ones of this age may become frustrated with lying on the floor all the time. Show your tot what the world looks like from a seated position with this Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat. With plenty of support, baby can sit up just like the rest of the family. It also includes toys to keep baby engaged and help them build the neck muscles needed to support and turn their head.

    Build Muscle Tone and Strength

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • Asher And LyricOn An Important Side Note… Asher and I (pictured) feel it’s necessary to highlight the value of life insurance for parents with young kids. After extensive research, we discovered that parents can get insured for as little as $10 per month. We use Ladder Life who offers coverage up to $3M per parent (without a medical exam, just a few health questions) and you can apply 100% online.

    Get a quote in less than 30 seconds at LadderLife.com ➜

  • 11. Foster a Love of Reading

    It’s going to be quite a while before your little one learns to read, but you can instill a love of reading from a much younger age. This particular set comes with six cloth books made with high quality materials to ensure baby’s safety when she inevitably tries to chew on them. Let baby listen to your voice and look at the colorful pictures as you read to them about the ABCs, colors, shapes and more.

    Foster a Love of Reading

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 12. Add Something New to Tummy Time

    4-month-old babies are getting better and better at lifting their head during tummy time. Keep them motivated by giving them something to look at! Let your little one gaze at their own reflection with this floor mirror. As they gain better body control over the next several months, you can utilize this mirror during sit-and-play.

    Add Something New to Tummy Time

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 13. Shake it up with a Rattle

    Babies love to learn about new sights and sounds – this toy will give them both! This rattle’s features are easy-to-grip, teeth-able balls on either end and a clear center packed with colorful beads to create an engaging toy that is easy for baby to manipulate. Baby can watch as the beads shift around inside and create the rattling sound.

    Shake it up with a Rattle

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 14. Create a Back Seat Play Space

    If your four-month-old will be joining you on your commute, it can be difficult to keep them entertained – especially when they’re still in a rear-facing car seat. Create an entertaining space in your back seat with this activity center. Designed specifically to be draped over the headrest of your backseat, this activity center includes a mirror, plush toys that jingle, and music that plays when your cutie kicks it just right.

    Create a Back Seat Play Space

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 15. Introduce Baby to Swimming

    Water safety skills are essential for every baby, so why not introduce your little one to the water now? This inflatable float ring comes in a variety of sizes suitable for infants as young as four months. Strap baby into the harness and let them float on top of the water. With their hands free, they’ll be able to splash as much as they’d like and the floaty design keeps their feet in the water to encourage kicking as well.

    Introduce Baby to Swimming

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 16. Try This Swimming Alternative

    If swimming isn’t an option for your little one right now, try this indoor alternative. This inflatable water mat features six floating marine animals in its center to create an underwater experience for your baby during tummy time. The bright colors and movement of the critters as they float in the water will have your little one lifting his head for long stretches at a time to get a better look.

    Swimming Alternative

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 17. Help Baby Get Active!

    It’s easy to think of 4-month-olds as very inactive. After all, they spend most of their time laying on their back. Help your little one hone those motor skills and work those muscles with this all-in-one activity center. With 360 degrees of swivel rotation, there’s something for baby to see and do in every direction. Accessories include plush pals, foot keyboard, and more.

    Help Baby Get Active!

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 18. Play Ball!

    Rolling a ball back and forth is a milestone your baby won’t achieve for quite some time, but this activity can help your little one learn how to track movement with his eyes. Baby’s vision is still developing, and tracking objects is a great way to spot any problems with eyes turning inward or outward. This ball is also safe to throw in the bath so baby can watch it float as well as roll.

    Play Ball!

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 19. Take Along Tunes

    Taking a baby out in public can be a challenging endeavor. Having an interactive toy on hand can be helpful if baby becomes fussy or bored. This battery-powered musical toy has ten different melodies and is designed for tiny hands. Made from safe, non-toxic materials, your little one can even use their new music toy as a teether. Several volume settings allow moms and dads to customize the musical experience depending on the situation.

    Take Along Tunes

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 20. Build with Blocks

    Introducing your infant to blocks can be a great way to prepare them for future milestones. These blocks are made of soft, teething-friendly materials and are designed with rounded corners to ensure there are no sharp edges. Each one of the colorful blocks are easy to grip and feature a number, letter, animal or other fun graphic.

    Build with Blocks

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 21. Make Bath Time Fun

    These unique stickers are designed specifically for use in the bathtub! Stick them on the tub and walls and encourage your little one to reach out and touch them. Made with foam and designed in the shapes of aquatic life, these stickers are sure to liven up any bathtub. They arrive in a mesh package with included suction for easy storage on the shower wall.

    Make Bath Time Fun

    View on Amazon.com ➜

7 Free Activities for Four-Month-Olds

  • 1. Sing to your Baby

    All baby’s love the sound of their parents’ voices. Singing to your little one can be a great way to form a bond as they will likely stare at you with wonder (even if you’re not a great singer). When my daughter was young, I sang to her as a way to calm her when she was crying. Over a year later, she still settles down when she hears me start to sing.

  • 2. Blow Bubbles

    With limited mobility at this point, baby is relying on you to show them all the world has to offer. Stimulate their senses by blowing bubbles at home. Place baby comfortably on the floor and blow bubbles so they can watch them as they fall towards the ground. This activity will continue to be enjoyable later on as they begin to reach for the bubbles and pop them with tiny fingers. This is a great way to help develop your baby’s hand-eye coordination and allows you to interact with them in a unique way.

  • 3. Explore Household Items

    Everything is new and fascinating to your 4-month-old at this time of their lives. Use this to your advantage! Take several everyday objects you have around the house and introduce them to your baby. Watch him wonder about the smooth texture of his rubber duck versus the feeling of one of your cashmere sweaters. This simple activity will promote hand-eye coordination and introduce your little one to a range of new sensations.

  • 4. Read a Book Together

    Studies have shown that infants recognize their mother’s voice from the moment they’re born. Your baby continues to love your voice just as much now as she did before her birth. Read to her and show her pictures in a book. At this point her vision is still blurry and she likely won’t recognize anything specific, but this activity can be a bonding moment for both of you and will foster a love of reading in your child.

  • 5. Make Silly Faces

    Since your baby doesn’t yet understand what you’re saying, he relies heavily on your facial expressions to determine your emotions. Entertain him by making silly faces. Stick out your tongue, make funny noises. Many babies begin to laugh and smile around this age – this may be just the thing to get your little one to do so.

  • 6. Explore Outside

    When my daughter was young, nothing comforted or distracted her quite like being outside. If she grew fussy at a restaurant, I would take her outside and point out different things in our surroundings. Even though she wouldn’t know what things were, I would tell her their names and what color they were. To this day, she loves to be outside and point at the trees and flowers and wildlife.

  • 7. Organize a Playdate

    Even before they are old enough to truly engage with other children, babies have their own means of socializing and communicating with other babies. Organize a playdate with friends or family who have children close in age to your own. Don’t know anyone with a little one? No problem. Try joining a local group of fellow parents – these groups can be a great way for both you and your little one to meet new people.

Conclusion

Young babies are like sponges, soaking up everything they see and hear in the world around them. Nurture your little one with engaging activities that prepare them to meet essential milestones. Use the time you have together to form a bond that makes them feel safe and loved. They may not be able to express it yet, but you are your baby’s favorite person in the world and they adore you.