how do i babysit for a 4-month old?

Question

I am going to be watching a 4-month old baby girl, and the youngest I have ever babysat for is a 2 year old. Does anybody know what a 4-month old should be capable of, and does anybody have advice for me?
I would greatly appricate it!

Answer 1

My son is almost 4 months :)

a 4 month old could roll over, sit up well when supported and can hold their head up.. They swat at toys, but cannot grasp them. Can only stay awake 1.5-2 hours before gettting fussy and eat about every 4 hours..

What you need to do, is ask the parents how they care for their child.. How much he eats, how do they put him to sleep. What time and where, what he likes to play with, what position he sleeps in, etc.. His parents already established habits and if you don't know what they are, he'll scream and protest.. So keep good communication with the parents, and you'll do great!

Answer 2

Well a 4-month old baby,

that is easy, hold the baby or put the baby on the stomach and let the baby see the TV, or put the baby in a baby chair and play with there hands and toes. make the baby smile at you . so if you are going to babysit for this baby again then the baby will know you already.
because you made that baby smile a lot.

talk to the baby, yes I said talk to the baby, they like to hear different sounds ( good not bad.) like some nice music or TV sounds.

they don't really care about the topic that you are talking about. it could be about your school or life and etc.

make sure you feed the baby if not already feed. change the baby as needed.

and have fun with the time you spend with the baby. good luck

Answer 3

In my daycare that would be part time ( 3 days a week or less ) It would be 25 for the first child per day, and 15 for the second ( assuming they are from the same family) I wont' be charging extra for infant care, but some people do. edit - ttc #2 - I'm going by my area, which is in rural Arkansas. Those prices are very normal here. The original poster didn't state her location, so I"m just going by what I will be charging. You shouldn't comment on things you know nothing about. My full time prices are 100 a week, which will honestly be hard for some people to even do and they will have to use vouchers from the state to even pay me. PS you sound like a stuck up ***** - just so ya know edit #2 - I was talking to ttc#2 and I don't need to be reminded of proper manners, obviously I MEANT for it to not be very nice. She wasn't very nice to me, so I just repaid the favor.

Answer 4

Take some patience and calm feelings with you first off. The smaller they are, the more they react to your feelings. At 4 months old, she will be practicing lifting her head. Dont leave her on her tummy for more than a few minutes, and dont leave her alone like that for even that long.
All babies are different, so ask the mother what she does to soothe her, how often she has a bottle and how much, and how often she usually needs a new diaper.
Babies at this age are fascinated with faces, voices, and bright things, so gently entertain her, but her attention span will be short so take cuddle breaks.

Answer 5

Four month old babies can sometimes roll & sit. They smile and can hold things. For the most part, you'll be making sure she's fed, has a clean diaper and is happy.
Before the parents leave, ask if there's a special way she likes to be held and how she likes to fall asleep. (For instance, my baby is almost always content if you hold upright by her belly and face her outward.)

If the parents don't give you the run-down, here's some general tips:
-Babies under a year should be put to sleep on their backs.
-Don't leave baby alone on something she can roll off of. Or near something dangerous she can roll to.
-Baby girls should be wiped front to back. No poop in the hoo-hoo area.

Answer 6

It's helpful if the parents bring an infant swing... We have one that folds up and is really lightweight, it plays music. My kids really like baby einstein DVD's if you can rent one or have one brought with the parents.. They are a lifesaver... Ask the parents lots of questions.. when do they eat.. How do they heat the bottle etc... Just to be safe... Have phone numbers ready in case you need to get in touch... 4 mnths babies don't do a whole lot... Have fun

Answer 7

Well know how to change a diaper, make a bottle and all the basic's. And be prepared for noise, and a lot of sleep! Some babies sleep a lot, some cry a lot, some even eat a lot. Just be prepared for everything in regards to babies! Good luck!

Answer 8

They are around the age of rolling so don't leave them on a bed or a high place unattended. They drink milk, usually no spoon feeding. They smile at that age and can hold onto toys. They need to be put on their back to sleep still. Don't keep them awake too long, it is better to put them to bed when they get tired instead of when they are screaming.

Answer 9

Hi!

Get ready to do a lot of holding. Seriously, if you want to keep a baby that young happy, be prepared to hold her quite a bit. You can also give her bottles, try her in a gymini, a bouncy seat or a swing. Hopefully, at her age, she'll have a good, long nap so you can catch up on your e-mail or tv watching.

Good luck!

Answer 10

its easy, just keep the baby dry and fed, and thats it. If they have a swing the baby may enjoy sitting in it, and she may want to be held, bounced or rocked. If she cries, try checking the diaper, then try a bottle, then try a nap. He parents should give you more info on her routine when you go to sit. good luck