4 Year Old Acts Like A Baby

But they’re probably acting appropriately for the 4-year-old age range. As your child approaches kindergarten, they may be more likely to be aware of and agree to rules. According to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), normal behavior in a 4-year-old might include:

What to do about it: Go ahead and baby your child. Let him cling, suck his thumb or drink from a bottle (but fill it only with water). Heap on the love. Show her that she doesn’t have to act like a baby to get your attention. Hold the criticism.

Like every age, being 4 years old comes with its ups and downs — and that’s just for the kid. Parenting a 4-year-old can be a challenge at the best of times. Every child is different, of course, but here are some of the things you can expect from your 4-year-old along with some expert tips on how to help them.

According to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), normal behavior in a 4-year-old might include: 1 wanting to please and be like friends. 2 showing increased independence. 3 being able to distinguish fantasy from reality. 4 being demanding at times, cooperative at times.

1 Don’t force your child to ‘act his or her age.’ If they want to act like a baby, drink from a bottle, take a pacifier or talk like a baby, … 2 Make sure to use a lot of praise. … 3 Empower your child’s sense of importance. … More items…

The American Academy of Paediatrics also offers the following advice for dealing with a child that is baby talking: Don’t force your child to ‘act his or her age.’ If they want to act like a baby, drink from a bottle, take a pacifier or talk like a baby, play along for a while.

Not letting him slide back a bit will only increase his desire to revert to babyhood and may prolong the phase. Heap on the love. Show her that she doesn’t have to act like a baby to get your attention. If you have a newborn in the house, set aside one-on-one time with your toddler. You might also appeal to her sense of importance.

If you want to act like a baby again, play with smooth, rounded objects like plastic rings and building blocks, or with toys that make noise like rattles and bells. Throughout your day, take interest in everything you find as if you’re seeing it for the first time.

There’s no doubt about it, 4-year-olds can be challenging at times. But like many parts of parenting, this too shall pass. It may be helpful to think of your 4-year-old’s behavior as normal development that will only help them grow into a healthy, functioning child.

As a parent of a 4-year-old, you may notice your child is all about living life to the fullest and making the most of every opportunity to learn, play and grow. Get ready—your 4-year-old’s skills and knowledge will continue to develop by leaps and bounds as they get ready to enter kindergarten.

4- to 5-Year-Old Development: When to Be Concerned. All kids grow and develop at their own pace. Don’t worry if your child has not reached all of these milestones at this time. But you should notice a gradual progression in growth and development as your child gets older.