Baby monthly chart

Baby Developmental Milestones and Chart

The first smile, the first step, the first word: Most parents remember exactly when their baby accomplished these big goals. But before baby reaches each one, you’re probably dying to know when to be on the lookout for the important baby developmental milestones, camera at the ready.

While it’s helpful to understand how baby development generally unfolds, don’t feel like you have to obsessively monitor your child’s progress against the baby milestone chart. As long as you’re keeping up with baby’s well visits, the doctor will keep track for you. “Pediatricians will ask parents questions about their child’s development at each well visit and look for certain developmental [concerns],” says Karen Fratantoni, MD, MPH, medical director of the Complex Care Program at Children’s National Health System in Washington, DC.

Also, keep in mind that every baby is unique, and there is a range for when children achieve their baby developmental milestones. To better reflect this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) adjusted their milestones guidelines in February 2022. The updates outline broader age ranges for milestone achievement, and since 75 percent of children generally fall within these ranges, developmental delays may be easier to spot, says Alexis Phillips-Walker, DO, a pediatrician at Memorial Hermann Medical Group Pediatrics in Atascocita, Texas. “These milestones enable parents to get help for their children earlier compared to the ‘watchful waiting’ approach previously associated with the older guidelines,” she explains.

The below baby milestone chart gives you an overview of what your child’s behavior may be like at each age—and when you can expect to check the big baby developmental milestones off the list. But of course, remember every child is different and will hit their picture-worthy milestones at their own pace.

In this baby milestone chart:
1 month old baby developmental milestones
2 month old baby developmental milestones
3 month old baby developmental milestones
4 month old baby developmental milestones
5 month old baby developmental milestones
6 month old baby developmental milestones
7 month old baby developmental milestones
8 month old baby developmental milestones
9 month old baby developmental milestones
10 month old baby developmental milestones
11 month old baby developmental milestones
12 month old baby developmental milestones
Baby milestones by month: FAQs
When should I be concerned about baby developmental milestones?

1 Month Old Baby Developmental Milestones

Baby’s senses are still developing—and they’ll be busy testing them out to help make sense of this strange new world.

Monthly baby milestones:

Notices faces
Sees bold patterns, especially in black and white
Recognizes the sound of your voice
Brings hands within range of their eyes and mouth

See what else baby will be doing at 1 month here.

2 Month Old Baby Developmental Milestones

The CDC’s new milestone guidance starts at 2 months. Observe these 2-month baby developmental milestones closely—if baby isn’t achieving them, your pediatrician may want to explore further. “The ability to track an object is important,” says Carrie Brown, MD, a pediatrician at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas, because the inability to do so may indicate a visual or brain impairment, “just like not turning their head to sounds could indicate a hearing issue.”

Monthly baby milestones:

Starts to coo and make sounds beyond a simple cry
Starts to smile at people
Briefly calms themselves (may bring their hands to their mouth to self-soothe) when spoken to or picked up
Begins to follow things with eyes and recognizes people at a distance
Turns their head in the direction of sounds
Makes smoother movements with their arms and legs
Holds their head up when lying on their stomach

See what else baby will be doing at 2 months here.

3 Month Old Baby Developmental Milestones

How time flies—baby is no longer considered a newborn! Baby’s emotional skills are developing: They may start to use different cries to tell you what they’re feeling and begin to enjoy playing with other people.

Monthly baby milestones:

Can distinguish your face from others
Starts to have different cries for different needs—hunger, diaper change, pain, etc.
Opens and shuts their hands
Swipes at dangling objects
Follows moving objects with their eyes
Enjoys playing with other people (and may cry when the playing stops)

See what else baby will be doing at 3 months here.

4 Month Old Baby Developmental Milestones

Baby is becoming more alert and eager to explore the world around them. At this age, you might hear baby’s adorable chuckle or watch them try to lift themselves up during tummy time.

Monthly baby milestones:

Starts to chuckle (not quite a full laugh)
Copies facial expressions
Holds their head up, unsupported
Pushes up onto their elbows when they’re lying on their tummy

See what else baby will be doing at 4 months here.

5 Month Old Baby Developmental Milestones

The skills baby is building now may seem small, but they form the foundation for bigger skills that’ll pop up later on the baby milestone chart—and may help your doctor diagnose an issue early if you notice something isn’t right. “All the milestones are a big deal because they build upon one another,” says Natasha Burgert, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician in Kansas City, Missouri, and blogger behind KC Kids Doc. “You can’t walk if you can’t pull up. You can’t speak in sentences if you don’t have simple words.”

Monthly baby milestones:

Babbles
Entertains themselves for short periods of time
May start to differentiate between colors

See what else baby will be doing at 5 months here.

6 Month Old Baby Developmental Milestones

At the six-month mark, baby may be ready to start accomplishing some huge developmental milestones—like mobility! But even if they don’t start creeping (pushing themselves around on their tummy) at 6 months, there’s no reason to worry. “There’s a range of time during which each skill is expected to develop, and that range can be narrow for some and wider for others,” Fratantoni says.

Monthly baby milestones:

Rolls over from tummy to back (though some babies may accomplish this earlier, around 4 months)
Explores toys by putting them in their mouth
Reaches for toys they want
Loves to look at themselves in a mirror
Starts creeping along the floor
Passes things from one hand to the other
Starts to understand simple words
Leans on hands for support when sitting

See what else baby will be doing at 6 months here.

7 Month Old Baby Developmental Milestones

Baby is becoming a little scientist and manipulating surrounding objects to learn more about them. That can lead to the pretty annoying habit of dropping things onto the floor, but it’s an encouraging sign of baby’s curiosity.

Monthly baby milestones:

Enjoys dropping things on the floor
May start to copy sounds and gestures of others
Can process and understand a wide range of sounds
Finds partially hidden objects

See what else baby will be doing at 7 months here.

8 Month Old Baby Developmental Milestones

At this age, you might be paying particular attention to baby’s developing mobility—especially if you’re babyproofing to help keep your little explorer safe. “Parents may focus more closely on one domain of a child’s development, such as gross motor skills like crawling or walking on time, but I think it’s helpful for parents to consider all domains of a child’s development,” Fratantoni says. This is especially important because some babies never crawl at all—they skip straight to walking! In fact, the developmental milestone isn’t listed in the CDC’s new guidance for this reason.

Monthly baby milestones:

Begins crawling
May be able to stand while holding onto something
May start to lean over to pick up toys

See what else baby will be doing at 8 months here.

9 Month Old Baby Developmental Milestones

Your babbling baby may start to experiment with different tones and sounds as they inch toward one of the biggest baby developmental milestones—talking. But experts say not to worry if you aren’t hearing that long-awaited “mama” or “dada” quite yet. “Not all children talk at the same time, but they should make constant forward progress,” Brown says. “Children progress from cooing to consonant sounds to simple words to two-word phrases to small sentences.”

Monthly baby milestones:

May be wary of strangers and clings to familiar people
Has favorite toys
Makes a lot of different sounds, like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
Uses fingers to point at things and “rake” food towards themselves
Responds to their name
Plays simple games like peekaboo
Gets into a sitting position without help and starts to sit unaided
Begins to understand object permanence and looks for objects dropped out of sight
Explores things in different ways, like shaking, banging and throwing

See what else baby will be doing at 9 months here.

10 Month Old Baby Developmental Milestones

If you’re part of a playgroup, you may start to see a wide range of abilities emerge at this age—many babies may still be crawling, but some may be already starting to cruise and a few bold souls may be nearly ready to take their first steps. And all of them are right on track.

Monthly baby milestones:

Starts to develop a pincer grasp (using the thumb and index finger)
Begins feeding themselves finger food, thanks to better hand-eye coordination
Develops separation anxiety

See what else baby will be doing at 10 months here.

11 Month Old Baby Developmental Milestones

Even if baby hasn’t taken their first step, don’t rush them. “A baby milestone chart is a great guide to see if your baby is working toward expected physical, verbal and social goals. The exact progression, however, can’t be rushed or pushed forward any faster than your baby’s brain allows,” Burgert says. “What’s most important is to enjoy every phase of development as it’s occurring. When you crave fast progress, you can miss the magic of the moment.”

Monthly baby milestones:

Crawls up the stairs (while supervised)
Makes sounds with changes in tone (sounds more like speech)

See what else baby will be doing at 11 months here.

12 Month Old Baby Developmental Milestones

Congratulations! Baby has officially graduated to toddler status. You can look back on all the amazing things on the baby milestone chart that your child has mastered over the past 12 months—it’s quite a lot!

Monthly baby milestones:

Uses basic gestures, like shaking their head “no” or waving “bye-bye”
Begins to respond to “no”
Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh!”
Starts to use things correctly; for example, drinks from a cup or brushes their hair
Can pick things up (like small bits of food) between thumb and forefinger
Pulls up to stand and may be able to stand alone
Starts cruising (shuffling along while holding onto furniture)

See what else baby will be doing at 12 months here.

Baby Milestones by Month: FAQs

It’s exciting to know what skills baby will gain month over month, but there are some major baby developmental milestones that all parents are eagerly anticipating—they just might not know exactly when they’ll happen. Curious when baby will hit specific milestones? Take a peek at the “cheat sheet” below.

When do babies smile?

While you might see a “reflexive” smile from baby in the early weeks, babies typically don’t learn how to consciously smile until 2 or 3 months of age. By this time, babies start to socially smile in response to their surroundings. Be sure to have your camera ready!

When do babies start laughing?

Babies usually learn to chuckle around month 3 or 4 and fully laugh around month 6. If you’re eagerly waiting to hear baby’s giggle, these are the months to start listening for it.

When do babies start rolling over?

Babies typically begin rolling over around the 4-month mark. At this time, baby is getting stronger and will likely practice pushing their chest off the ground and rocking side to side, eventually making a complete roll from their belly to their back. By 6 months, babies have usually mastered rolling from their backs to their bellies and vice versa.

When do babies start crawling?

While the new CDC guidelines do not include age ranges for crawling, some babies achieve this developmental milestone as early as 6 or 7 months old, while others wait until closer to 10 months. Keep in mind, though, that some babies skip crawling altogether and go straight to walking.

When can babies see in full color?

At birth, baby will only see shades of black, white and grey. As their eyes begin to develop, they’ll slowly begin to differentiate between hues. By 7 months, baby should be able to see the full spectrum of colors.

When do babies start talking?

Babies will usually begin babbling around 6 months and will slowly progress to forming words. By 12 months, many babies will begin saying their first words like “mama” or “dada.” However, some babies prefer to take their time when it comes to speaking, so be patient.

When do babies start walking?

Babies can begin experimenting with walking as early as 9 months. However, it’s not uncommon for some babies to wait until the one-year mark—or as late as 18 months—to take those first steps.

When Should I Be Concerned About Baby Developmental Milestones?

While it’s important to keep an eye on these markers, the ages at which babies will meet them are not set in stone. Every child progresses at their own speed, and doctors say not to be overly concerned if your little one isn’t hitting the developmental milestones exactly when the baby milestone chart says they should. “Children develop along a spectrum, and not all children do things at the same time or according to any baby milestone chart that parents may have,” Brown says. Your little one might be quick to start crawling but slower when it comes to walking. Or they may not speak for months, only to wake up one day talking up a storm.

That said, if you are at all concerned about baby’s development, don’t hesitate to bring it up with your child’s pediatrician, as there is a lot of value in early intervention. “The biggest reason for concern is if you feel your child isn’t moving forward and making progress toward new skills,” Brown says. “Then you should talk to your doctor and see if they share your concerns.” They’ll complete an assessment and, if necessary, recommend next steps.

About the experts:

Karen Fratantoni, MD, MPH, is the medical director of the Complex Care Program at Children’s National Health System in Washington, DC. She earned her medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical school in 1996.

Natasha Burgert, MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician at Pediatric Associates in South Overland Park, Kansas, and the blogger behind KC Kids Doc. She earned her medical degree from University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Alexis Phillips-Walker, DO, is a pediatrician with Memorial Hermann Medical Group Pediatrics Atascocita in Atascocita, Texas. She earned her medical degree at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Baby milestones chart: Development milestones by month

Baby milestones are skills babies learn in the first 12 months of life. A lot happens in the first year: Babies start cooing, babbling, imitating speech, and saying their first words. They smile, laugh, and interact with their caregivers. Movement milestones include rolling over, sitting unassisted, crawling, standing, and potentially walking. All babies develop at a different pace, and variations are normal. But keeping an eye on your baby's milestones month by month helps to ensure their development is on track.

Baby milestones

Baby milestones are the accomplishments or skills you can expect your child to achieve or learn in the first year of life. Watching for development milestones helps you and your baby's pediatrician ensure that your baby's development is on track.

In the first year, babies learn and grow at an astonishing pace. These 12 months are chock-full of exciting development milestones, from saying "mama" or "dada" to sitting up, crawling, and maybe even taking those momentous first steps. Although all children develop at different rates, there's a standard milestone timeline that most babies follow.

As you learn which baby milestones to expect this year, keep in mind that this is only a guideline. Each child is unique and develops at their own pace. If your baby is advanced in one skill (say, crawling or walking), they may be less advanced in another (such as talking). Rest assured, there's a wide range of what's considered normal.

Still, let the doctor know if you notice that your little one is behind on certain baby milestones month to month. Your child's pediatrician may want to check for development delays. The earlier any potential issues are detected, the sooner they can be addressed, often leading to a better outcome.

For more information on helping your baby meet physical milestones, check out Meeting physical milestones through play, BabyCenter's course about using play to foster your baby's healthy development.

Here are baby milestones to look out for according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, March of Dimes, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

1 month old milestones

Tries different facial expressions
Can recognize your smell
Startles at loud noises (hearing is fully developed)
Can see things 8 to 12 inches away (eyesight is developing)
Enjoys high-contrast patterns, especially black and white
May be able to hold their head up for brief moments
May be able to turn head from side to side during tummy time

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 1-month-old.

2 month old milestones

May smile
Brings hands to mouth
Possibly self-soothes by thumb-sucking
Makes cooing noises
Turns head toward sounds, especially your voice
Visually tracks an object in front of them
Tries to look at a parent's face
Has improved head and neck control, thanks to plenty of tummy time
Makes smoother arm and leg movements

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 2-month-old.

3 month old milestones

Smiles socially in response to others
May laugh
Lifts head and chest during tummy time and possibly supports upper body with arms
Kicks when placed on back
Pushes down on feet when placed against a solid surface
Watches faces
Follows objects with eyes
Turns head toward sounds
Makes babbling noises
Imitates sounds
Has improved hand-eye coordination
Reaches for and may be able to grasp toys
Open and shuts hands
Brings hands to mouth
Might begin rolling from tummy to back

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 3-month-old.

4 month old milestones

Smiles at familiar faces
Recognizes objects, like a favorite toy
Uses hands and eyes together to reach and grab for objects of interest
Enjoys playing with toys
May get frustrated when it's time to stop playing
Begins to babble
Imitates sounds and facial expressions
Holds head steady without support
Pushes body up onto elbows during tummy time
May roll over from tummy to back

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 4-month-old.

5 month old milestones

Enjoys playing games like "peek-a-boo"
Can likely roll over from tummy to back
May be able to sit when propped up with pillows
Picks up and moves objects with hands
Understands cause and effect (for example, that dropping a block makes noise)

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 5-month-old.

6 month old milestones

Recognizes familiar people
Enjoys looking in the mirror (recognizes self)
Likes playing games like patty-cake
Responds to other people's emotions
Tries to "talk" with you, or babbles back at you
Says consonant sounds like "m" and "b"
Responds to own name
Is curious about the surrounding world
Explores objects using mouth
Passes toys between hands
Rolls from tummy to back and back to tummy
May attempt to get up on hands and knees and rock back and forth
May be able to sit without support
Likely has fun bouncing on legs when supported

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 6-month-old.

7 month old milestones

Rolls both ways (from tummy to back and back to tummy)
Notices and tracks distant objects with eyes
Reaches with one hand
Picks up larger objects
Passes objects between hands
Uses a "raking" movement to move small objects
May understand some words, including their own name and "no"
Babbles chains of consonants like "ma ma ma ma"
Reacts to emotion in your voice
Loves playing with you
Might be able to sit without support
May be able to support their own weight on their feet when held under armpits

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 7-month-old.

8 month old milestones

Sits without support
Babbles
Easily passes objects between hands
Might become attached to a special toy
May pull themselves up to stand
Could start to crawl
May say some words, like "mama"
Might grasp smaller objects

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 8-month-old.

9 month old milestones

Claps their hands
Attempts to wave
May use fingers to point
Picks up small objects like finger foods
Remembers the location of toys and other objects
May cry when you leave due to separation anxiety
Understands certain words, like their name and "no"
Makes many different sounds
Has likely begun crawling
Might be afraid of strangers and clingy with parents
Can probably pull themselves up to stand
Can get into sitting position and sit without support

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 9-month-old.

10 month old milestones

Experiments with toys by shaking, throwing, or banging them
Copies your patterns of speech
Can likely understand and use some baby sign language
May communicate using basic gestures, such as pointing at objects they want
Might crawl
May pull themselves up to stand
Might take a few steps on their own

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 10-month-old.

11 month old milestones

Understands more words
Looks at objects when named
Uses gestures to communicate, such as waving bye
May be able to pull up with support and stand for a few seconds
May "cruise" while standing and holding onto furniture or a walking toy
Might take a few steps without holding on
Could say first words
Might be able to follow simple directions

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 11-month-old.

12 month old milestones

Sits without support
Get onto hands and knees
Pulls up to stand
May remain standing without support
Crawls
Cruises (walks while standing and holding onto furniture or a walking toy)
May walk without support
Explores objects by banging, shaking, and dropping
Moves objects in and out of containers
Uses a sippy cup
Says single words, like "dada" or "uh oh"
Tries to imitate words
Remembers where objects are hidden
Responds to simple commands
Look at correct picture when image is named
Uses gestures, such as shaking head no
Points at objects or people of interest
Shows preferences for certain people or toys
Likely experiences some separation anxiety
May hold a marker and try to scribble

newborn sleep and feeding schedule

02/26/2019

Your baby is almost 5 weeks old, and do you remember how the first month was filled with new emotions, doubts and discoveries for you and your baby? But now you better understand your monthly baby and strive to organize a comfortable daily routine for your child. “What is important to consider at this age? How many hours of sleep and wake is enough for a child? How to properly organize the approximate regimen and feeding of a newborn this month? Frequently asked questions by new parents. Let's explore them together!

Baby's daily routine

1 month

In the first month of life, sleep is extremely important for the development of children, their growth and mood. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to organizing the rest of the crumbs.

The baby sleeps approximately 17-20 hours a day. At the same time, some children of this age sleep more, others less.

Usually night sleep is 7-10 hours with awakenings for feeding, and daytime sleep is about 8-9 hours. With this mode, you will notice that the baby sleeps 4-6 times a day. It is important to remember that a newborn's daytime sleep can be both short (20-40 minutes) and long (up to 3 hours).

This is due to the fact that the brain of a newborn is not yet physiologically mature, the biological clock is not formed, so the child does not have any clear regimen. It turns out that you will not be able to achieve one schedule daily yet. Also, leaving at night can change and be quite late. You will also notice that the baby during the rest gurgles, moves and does not seem to be actually sleeping. The fact is that now the child sleeps mainly in the fast phase, so now children's sleep is quite restless.

Waking time - is the second important point that should be taken into account when forming the routine of a monthly baby. On average, the baby should be awake for up to 60 minutes. Focus on the time that the child slept in the previous daytime sleep - as much as possible he can hold out in the state of wakefulness. This will also help organize the baby's routine this month.

Avoid overexertion and watch your activity time between naps. Do not be afraid to soothe a newborn baby by any means.

What can be done to make the baby sleep better:

Swaddle your baby so that he calms down faster and does not wake himself up with his arms and legs.
Organize sleep in your stroller. Babies tend to sleep longer outdoors. How long it takes to walk depends on the time of year. In summer it is possible up to 2-3 hours in a row, in winter - depending on weather conditions. If it's too cold outside, the best way out is to put the child on the balcony.
If the baby has difficulty falling asleep in the evening, dim the lights in advance, turn on white noise.
Use a sling or chaise longue if the baby is completely capricious.
Start going to bed as soon as you see the first signs of fatigue in the child - this is exactly the time when he wants to sleep.
Remember that a change of bed may cause the baby to wake up. If you decide to transfer a sleeping baby from your arms to the crib, do it 20 minutes after falling asleep, when the baby is fast asleep.
Bathe your baby before bed. Soon, bathing for him will be a signal to end the day and prepare for bed.
Give your baby a pacifier if he can't sleep. Just remember that it is better to start using a pacifier when breastfeeding after lactation is established.
Use a weak night light when feeding at night.

Causes of poor sleep in a 1 month old baby can be:

1. Physical discomfort. In the evening, the baby may begin an attack of colic, which lasts from 2 to 6 hours. Support the baby in every possible way on such days - by 6 weeks relief will come. Also remember that the baby takes over your state. A calm mother is a calm baby. Therefore, try not to forget about your rest too and do not worry if the regime is violated.

2. Confusion of day and night. Due to the not yet formed circadian rhythms, a 1-month-old baby may sleep more during the day than at night. But already by 1.5 months, the baby will begin to sleep at night for up to 3-5 hours in a row. Take your child out to bright light during the day and dim the lights at night. So the baby's body will quickly adjust the internal clock. Try to start the morning early so that the child understands that the day has come. Carrying out hygiene procedures will become for him an association with the morning.

The table shows the sleep norms of a baby in the first month of life:

Baby's feeding schedule

1 month

A newborn baby basically eats every 2-3 hours, regardless of the time of day. Therefore, do not worry if the child often wakes up at night now.

IV babies eat less often because formula takes longer to digest than breast milk.

Modern pediatricians advise in the first weeks of a child's life on breastfeeding to organize meals on demand in order to establish lactation. Night feeding also occurs on demand.

Gradually, you will learn to understand when the baby is hungry and asks for breasts. Also during this period, breasts are a way for children to satisfy the sucking reflex, calm down and relax.

When breastfeeding, the baby does not need water or other fluids for the first 6 months.

After the first month, the intervals between feedings will gradually increase. This will allow you to establish a more flexible mode when breastfeeding.

After a month, the break between feedings will increase, and you can move on to establishing a flexible regimen.

Apparently, it is very difficult to organize a clear daily routine for a newborn baby and live according to a schedule. But there are approximate norms of sleep and wakefulness, which allow you to create an approximate regimen during the day.

Tell us, did you manage to set the regimen for your baby at 1 month?

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How much should a baby sleep at 1 month

The sleep of a newborn baby causes concern and anxiety in young parents. The baby can sleep all day and stay awake at night. Or not sleep at all “neither day nor night” - wake up at short intervals, demand a breast. Chaos, the absence of any predictability and regimen is the norm for a baby in the first month of life.

In this article we will tell:

- about the features of sleep and wakefulness of a newborn baby (child's day regimen at 1 month old)

- about how to navigate the sleep-wake cycles

- what is the optimal daily routine for a newborn

- about what affects the quality of baby's sleep

- is there a relationship between the state and mood of the mother and sleep baby

Newborn sleep features

Newborn babies sleep a lot, but chaotically! This is due to the physiological immaturity of the brain.

In the daily routine of a one-month-old baby, the total number of hours of sleep during the day is about 8-9hours and about the same at night. In total, the baby sleeps 16 - 18 hours a day. The sleep of babies is very superficial, since 50% of sleep is the active phase, and the synthesis of their own “sleep hormone” melatonin will improve only by the 3rd month of life. For the same reason, children in the first month of life do not distinguish day from night. There is no clear daily routine for babies from birth to 3 months.

It's too early to talk about a clock schedule, early bedtime, a certain time for waking up and eating.

What we used to call the daily routine in older children, in newborns, it is rather the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness - a change in food and dream cycles. In a newborn, this cycle is 2-3 hours.

Wake time of the baby

From birth, the baby can be awake for 20-40 minutes. By the end of the first month, the time of wakefulness increases and can be up to 60-90 minutes.

It is very important not to overwork the child and watch for signs of fatigue. And remember that the time of wakefulness of the child in the first month includes active and calm wakefulness, preparation for sleep, ritual and falling asleep.

Staying awake is very important during this period! Try to avoid visiting noisy and crowded places with your newborn baby. The protective reaction of the nervous system of newborns is the "shutdown" at the time of excessive external stimulation of the nervous system. Babies turn off in noisy places. Outwardly, it looks like the child has fallen asleep. And parents most often perceive these situations as "nothing special is happening, the child is just sleeping." But such a dream is not healthy. The child's nervous system simply cannot withstand the load - light, noise, a lot of people around and "turns off", and the child does not rest properly.

Baby's diet

Newborns eat only breast milk (for breastfeeding babies) or formula (for IV babies).

- The baby's daily feeding regimen is feeding once every 1.5-2 hours, if we are talking about breastfeeding

- At night, the baby can wake up about 3 times a night to eat. The stomach is still too small and the baby cannot eat enough to sleep through the night without waking up.

3 feedings per night is enough for the baby to get nutrition. In practice, babies wake up much more often. This happens because, in addition to milk as the basis of nutrition, the baby also needs a mother - her warmth, hugs, smell, voice.

To be without a mother for a long time, the baby still cannot fall asleep without her - the nervous system is still very immature and the baby needs mother's help and her presence.

VIDEO LESSON

Baby sleep from 0 to 3 months

What will help your baby sleep better in the first month?

The baby still cannot calm down on his own, and the task of the parents is to help him with this. The most soothing means for a baby at 1 month old are sensations reminiscent of the mother's womb: blackout, "white noise", slight motion sickness and squeezing, the proximity and smell of mother's mother - breasts, hands, voice

Close curtains. The baby does not yet have its own melatonin, but dark curtains allow not to irritate the nervous system with bright light. And also to build the association “we sleep in the dark - we are awake in the light”
Use white noise. Heartbeat, wind or wave noise, mother's voice recording (singing or hissing) can be used if the mother cannot always be present during the child's falling asleep and dreams.
Gently rocking your baby to help him relax and fall asleep. Just do not overdo it, too intense motion sickness is dangerous and can damage the baby's brain.
Swaddling, when done safely - helps reduce involuntary jerks and improve sleep.

Mom's presence is the most important and most soothing association. The first 3 months of life can be considered the "fourth trimester" - full-term. Therefore, mother, her closeness is what the baby really needs both during wakefulness and during dreams.

In addition to soothing sleep conditions, it is very important to keep your wake time and avoid overindulgence. The biggest enemy for a baby's sleep at 1 month old is overwork. The baby, having “overdone” his waking time, can overwork, and the cortisol released into the blood will prevent calming and falling asleep, it will be difficult to put the baby to bed, and the subsequent sleep will be superficial and disturbing.

Use 1-month-old baby wake rates as a guide. But depending on the condition of the baby, time of day, weather conditions, the time of wakefulness may vary. It is very important for parents to be flexible, to take into account the signs of fatigue of the baby when putting him to bed.

The mother's condition and mood greatly affect the baby

Mother and baby are in a very close relationship, this is especially pronounced in the first months of the baby's life.

Mom is sensitive to her baby:

Mom's milk is able to adapt to the needs of the baby, changing its composition.

- Mom's sleep also changes, becomes seismic - so mom is always "on the alert", she can watch her child even in a dream.

The baby, in turn, is exactly the same attuned to the mother:

- Any changes in the state of the mother, physical or emotional, affect the baby.

- When a mother is stressed, her cortisol is transferred to the baby. Cortisol is the main antagonist of melatonin and will interfere with calm. While the mother’s calm state, soothing, “endorphin” voice will lull the baby to sleep.

It is very important for a mother to take care of herself, to involve loved ones, if possible.

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