What milestone is generally achieved by infants aged Birth to 4 months?

Infants from birth to 4 months typically achieve the milestone of sucking, swallowing, and breathing in a coordinated pattern. This developmental progression is crucial for feeding, as it enables the infant to effectively consume breast milk or formula without choking. During this early stage, the oral-motor skills develop to the point where infants can manage the necessary actions of sucking and swallowing simultaneously with breathing, which is foundational for nutrition and overall growth.

Other milestones, such as pulling up to stand, sitting independently, or drinking from a straw, generally occur at later stages of infant development. For instance, pulling up to stand and sitting independently usually develops around 6 to 9 months, while the ability to drink from a straw typically emerges closer to 12 months and beyond, as the infant refines their oral skills. Thus, the ability to suck, swallow, and breathe is a fundamental milestone that lays the groundwork for later developmental skills and is achieved within the first four months of life.