Infants at 1 month

Your baby's growth and development - 1 month old

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Infant development begins at birth. Initially your baby will grow fast and learn a lot. At 1 month, cuddling, sleeping and feeding are all that really matters to your baby. The time you spend with them will help their brain to grow and develop as they start to experience the world.

Your baby will probably be crying a lot at the moment. It’s often because they’re hungry or have a dirty nappy, but often babies just cry for no apparent reason. Give them lots of cuddles to comfort them and remember that the crying will eventually pass.

At 6 to 8 weeks, your baby needs a full health review by a health professional such as child and family health nurse, midwife, GP or paediatrician.

Your 1-month-old

All babies grow at different rates. But, on average, at 1 month they gain between 0.7 to 0.9 kg each month and grow 2.5 to 4 cm. Their head circumference will increase by about 1.25 cm each month.

All babies lose weight right after they are born. Healthy babies usually get back to their birth weight in about 2 to 3 weeks and will then continue to grow.

Your baby was weighed at birth and your doctor or maternal child health nurse will plot their growth regularly on a growth chart. Babies come in all different shapes and sizes, and your baby might be large or small. What matters is that they grow consistently over time. Try not to compare your baby’s weight gain with that of other babies.

Understanding baby growth charts

A growth chart helps you and your doctor keep track of how your baby is growing.

What can your baby do?

At 1 month, most of what babies do is still caused by reflexes. They aren’t thinking about their actions. They will be sucking, swallowing, searching for milk and grasping an object if you put it in the palm of their hand (although most of the time they’ll keep their hands clenched in tight little fists). They will also step one foot in front of the other if you put their feet on a flat surface.

They will start to focus with both eyes at 1 month and should be able to follow a moving object from side to side. They will probably prefer looking at a human face to looking at an object and will gaze deeply into your eyes if you hold them about 45 cm away. Most babies can recognise their parents by this age.

1-month-old babies love the sound of your voice, but they will get startled if they hear a loud noise. They might fall backward and throw their arms and legs out, blink their eyes and breathe faster.

By the end of the first month, most babies can raise their head when you lay them on their stomach, and they will turn their head to one side. As their neck muscles get stronger, they will be able to turn their head and lift it up when they’re in a car seat or carrier.

Your baby will cry loudly when they are hungry or uncomfortable. When they are happy and content, they usually make little gurgling noises. Respond to your baby’s sounds by gurgling and cooing back.

At 1 month, some babies will be learning how to soothe themselves, with a dummy or even by sucking their fingers or thumbs. Helping your baby to suck is a good way to calm them down.

How can I help my baby develop?

Spend as much time with your baby as possible. Looking deep into their eyes and smiling at them will help them to bond and to feel safe and secure.

Read and sing to your baby. Even though they can’t understand, they will enjoy hearing your voice. Music helps to stimulate their senses and will keep them amused. Playing with them will also strengthen your bond.

Help your baby to develop neck strength by putting them on their tummy for 1 to 5 minutes at a time. This is called tummy time. Always keep an eye on your baby during tummy time and always put them to sleep on their back.

Development problem signs

Babies develop at different rates. At 1 month, you will still be learning about your baby and their needs. But talk to your doctor or maternal child health nurse if:

• they aren’t feeding well
• they are regularly sleeping a lot more than 16 hours a day
• they aren’t moving their arms or legs
• they aren’t following your face with their eyes or responding when they see you
• they aren’t making gurgling sounds
• they don’t startle or seem not be hearing things
• you are worried about your baby’s crying or sleeping

Where can I go for help?

If you are worried or would like to discuss any issues with your baby’s development, speak to your doctor or child health nurse.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Sources:

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: October 2020

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Related pages

• Bonding with your baby
• How your baby learns - birth to 3 years
• Your baby’s growth and development – first 12 months
• Understanding baby growth charts

This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.

The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Developmental Milestones: 1 Month - HealthyChildren.org

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What are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by one month of age?

In the very beginning, it may seem that your baby does nothing but eat, sleep, cry, and fill his diapers. By the end of the first month, he’ll be much more alert and responsive. Gradually he’ll begin moving his body more smoothly and with much greater coordination—especially in getting his hand to his mouth. You’ll realize that he listens when you speak, watches you as you hold him, and occasionally moves his own body to respond to you or attract your attention.

Here are some other milestones to look for.

Movement Milestones

• Makes jerky, quivering arm thrusts
• Brings hands within range of eyes and mouth
• Moves head from side to side while lying on stomach
• Head flops backward if unsupported
• Keeps hands in tight fists
• Strong reflex movements

Visual and Hearing Milestones

• Focuses 8 to 12 inches (20.3 to 30.4 cm) away
• Eyes wander and occasionally cross
• Prefers black-and-white or high-contrast patterns
• Prefers the human face to all other patterns
• Hearing is fully mature
• Recognizes some sounds
• May turn toward familiar sounds and voices

Smell and Touch Milestones

• Prefers sweet smells
• Avoids bitter or acidic smells
• Recognizes the scent of his own mother’s breastmilk
• Prefers soft to coarse sensations
• Dislikes rough or abrupt handling

Developmental Health Watch

If, during the second, third, or fourth weeks of your baby’s life, she shows any of the following signs of developmental delay, notify your pediatrician.

• Sucks poorly and feeds slowly
• Doesn’t blink when shown a bright light
• Doesn’t focus and follow a nearby object moving side to side
• Rarely moves arms and legs; seems stiff
• Seems excessively loose in the limbs, or floppy
• Lower jaw trembles constantly, even when not crying or excited
• Doesn’t respond to loud sounds

Last Updated

6/1/2009

Source

Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 (Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Baby 1 month: development

In the first months of life, the baby has yet to adapt to his new environment. Especially between sleep and wakefulness, he has to find his rhythm. The development of the child in the first month is characterized by the appearance of reflex abilities.

Dry initial milk formula adapted by Valio Baby 1 NutriValio for feeding children from birth to 6 months More

Dry milk drink "Baby milk" Valio Baby 3 NutriValio for feeding children over 12 months Read more

Follow-up dry milk formula adapted by Valio Baby 2 NutriValio for feeding children from 6 to 12 months Read more

What a 1-month-old baby can do

Physical development in 1 month of life is manifested by reflex features that help the newborn to adapt to the outside world. Some reflexes are innate, they can disappear or transform, reaching a new level of consciousness.

In the first month of life, the following reflex abilities are distinguished in a newborn:

• Grasping. They belong to primitive reflexes: the child tries to grab and hold any objects that touch his palm. The reflex appears already in the womb at the 16th week of pregnancy and persists until five or six months after birth.
• Search or Kussmaul reflex. The child turns his head when his cheek is touched, opens his mouth with light pressure on the middle of the lower lip. This reflex is considered as an instinctive search for food.
• Foot reflex (plantar). When you touch or hold a finger (pencil) on the foot of the baby, his fingers diverge to the sides, and the foot is also abducted.
• Moro reflex. An important indicator of the normal and developing nervous system in your baby. This is a reflex reaction of babies to fright, which is characterized by stretching the arms to the sides, and then bringing them closer together. You can check the reaction as follows: suddenly straighten the legs of the baby lying on his back or lift the unbent legs of the crumbs up along with the pelvis. Clap your hands sharply next to the lying child.
• Babkin's reflex. Manifested by opening the mouth and bending the arms in response to stimulation of the palms. This is a normal reaction in the first 10 weeks of life and it manifests itself quite clearly. If the reflex is sluggish or absent, possible problems with the central nervous system should be considered.
• Swimming reflex. If the baby is laid on his stomach, he will begin to make movements that mimic swimming.
• Reflex walking. If the newborn is slightly tilted forward, he should be able to make stepping movements (automatic gait).

Newborn skills in the first month of life

The first month and the beginning of the second, the newborn shows the ability to concentrate on certain objects. In the first month of life, the nervous system actively develops, the process of synthesizing and differentiating external signals starts.

Physical activity

At 1 month, the child's motor activity does not have a clear coordination, but it is already quite well manifested. The muscles are in physiological hypertonicity - fingers in fists, legs bent at the knees. It is important for parents to learn to recognize their baby's body language. Clinical studies in pediatrics have shown that curling of the toes often indicates pain. With the development of colic and swelling, often the newborn actively waves its legs, creating knock-out movements.

Visual system

The baby's eyes, as an organ of the visual system, are already fully formed, but the vision is not clear enough. The infant has difficulty focusing on objects and can barely distinguish images with his or her eyes. However, bright, light objects encourage the child to look at them intently. By the end of the fourth week of life, a reflex movement of the eyes appears, the ability to distinguish the shape and size of objects is gradually formed.

Hearing sensory system

In the first month, the newborn develops conditioned reflex reactions to sounds and already knows how to recognize the mother's voice. You can see how the child smiles when talking or stops crying when he hears a familiar voice. The external auditory canal in infants, unlike an adult, is located vertically and rather narrow, consists of cartilage tissue, which gradually ossifies.

For the first month of life, a child has the following skills :

• tries to focus on a person/object;
• notices bright objects, reacts to light;
• if you put a toy in your palm, the baby will quickly grab it and immediately release it;
• is able to distinguish the mother by the timbre of her voice and smell;
• expresses discomfort, hunger or thirst through crying;
• responds to warm, sensitive, physical contact and care.

Child's height at 1 month

According to the data of domestic pediatricians, in the first month, the growth of boys varies from 51 cm to 56 cm, for girls, the figures are less - 50-55. 6 cm.

According to WHO, boys 1 month old are 50-58 cm tall, girls 49-57 cm.

The first months of a child are preparation for an independent life, not only height and weight change. Changes are observed at the physiological level: the work of the immune system starts, the skin integument thickens.

How much a child should weigh at 1 month - the norm of weight for boys and girls

The weight of the child is calculated based on the period at which he was born. In preterm birth (32 weeks), body weight does not exceed 2100 g. Newborns weighing more than 4000 g are considered as large babies. Often this weight indicates the presence of a carbohydrate disorder in the mother.

At the birth of a child at normal times, the weight in boys is from 3.5 to 5.5 kg, in girls - 3.1-5.2 kg. With normal physical development, the baby adds 100-200 g per week. On average, for 1 month of life there is an increase in weight of 600 g, then about 800 g monthly.

Mental development of a child at 1 month

• Starting from the third week, the newborn begins to understand how to get his way. If the mother's attention is needed, loud, prolonged screams begin. At 1 month, the child's need for social communication increases, the baby is already focused on parents. Likes to look at new faces, begins to smile in response. Surprised, amazed by new sounds.
• At this period, psychological development depends on the physical condition. Many pediatricians recommend daily light massage in the form of strokes. It is the hands of mom or dad that are preferable for a healthy baby: this allows you to establish closer contact with parents and has a positive effect on the psycho-emotional background of the newborn.[1]
• So far, the child has only two options for expressing emotions - smiling and crying. The ability to smile back develops by the end of the fourth week. A healthy atmosphere in the house contributes to the correct development of the child, conflict situations should be avoided and relations should not be sorted out in raised tones with the baby.
• Studies have shown that positive contact during communication with parents is more beneficial for the emotional and psychological development of the child. Experiments have been done with infants up to four months of age using both positive touch (stroking or hugging) and negative touch (pushing, pinching or tickling).
• Babies who received positive touch cried less often and smiled much more often than babies who received negative touch. It was found that newborns with negative communication experiences in infancy were more likely to experience emotional and behavioral problems in later life.

Baby care during the first month

• It is recommended to bathe a newborn daily, and use baby detergents no more than twice a week. Plain water is best for baby's skin in the first month.
• After the bath, the baby's skin should be thoroughly dried with a clean towel, without skipping wrinkles. After bathing, it is allowed to apply creams or oils intended for newborns. It is better not to bathe the baby immediately after feeding, when he is hungry or tired.
• An important point in care is changing the diaper. Immediately after emptying or urinating, you need to change the diaper, this will avoid the development of a bacterial infection and inflammation. Often the process of defecation in children occurs immediately after feeding. Some babies don't respond to a full diaper, so it's worth checking it every few hours. Every time before changing a clean diaper, hygiene of the genitals of the newborn is carried out. After the skin is dried, and a cream or powder is applied to prevent irritation.
• For new parents, getting the right diaper size can be tricky as different brands have different size standards. Sizes of baby diapers are based on the weight of the baby, which should be taken into account when choosing a product.
• Childcare involves trimming nails. The procedure should be done regularly as the nail plate grows. For this purpose, special scissors designed for young children are used. Such a tool has increased safety and minimizes the possibility of injury.
• If it is necessary to treat the umbilical wound, a solution of Chlorophyllipt is used at a concentration of 1%, but more often they resort to using ordinary brilliant green. The tool has an antibacterial effect, accelerates the healing process without side effects.
• When caring for a child, it is important to adhere to the correct temperature regime, it is necessary to exclude overheating and hypothermia.
• A daily walk in the fresh air is required, at least 30 minutes in the autumn-winter period and an hour or two in the summer.
• The psychological and physical development of the child largely depends on the parents. Feeding and putting to bed is not enough. Communicate with the baby, talk, turn on the music. This contributes to the development of the hearing aid, has a positive effect on the psycho-emotional background.

It is important to think through all the little things that relate to caring for a newborn. At the slightest doubt, you should contact an obstetrician-gynecologist or consult a pediatrician. Proper care is the key to a happy and healthy child[2].

Find out about the development of a child at two months at the link.

2. “The beginning of life. Your child from birth to a year. Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky. Also here: Newborn Care. The Complete Encyclopedia for Parents. Bogomolov B. N.

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