The first month of a baby's life is filled with a lot of
changes and growth. From learning how to feed to recognizing their parents, a
baby's development in the first month is a remarkable journey.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
Sleep for a 1-Month Old
As you're probably discovering, one of the biggest
challenges of being a parent is getting your little one to sleep. And your
one-month-old’s sleep can be pretty disorganized, making it a bit of a puzzle
to figure out.
Your baby may sleep for hours during the day and then decide
to stay awake for hours at night. And naps can be 10mins or 90+mins. Sometimes
they will only nap on you and all of this unpredictability can all feel a bit overwhelming, but don't
worry, you're not alone! The most important thing right now is to make sure
your baby is feeding well.
5 Things you can do to help your newborn with sleep:
- 1.Get lots of natural light during the day
- 2.Make sure naps and overnight sleep happen in a
pitch dark room
- 3.Separate feeding and sleep, so try to stop feeding
before your baby falls asleep
- 4.Track all sleeps in the Smart Sleep Coach app – it features
one click sleep tracking and the AI powered schedule will work to sync your baby’s
sleeps with their natural rhythms
- 5.Use white or brown noise
“It’s never
too early to start implementing healthy sleep habits. The sooner you can create
a consistent bedtime routine, the sooner it will start to cue your baby that
it’s time for sleep.”
Mandy
Treeby
, Pediatric Sleep Coach and Co-Founder of the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers
Remember, disorganized sleep is perfectly normal for
newborns. Be patient, stay positive, and keep trying new things until you find
what works best for you and your little one. You've got this!
Your 1-Month Old’s Physical Development
During the first month, babies are still adjusting to their
new environment, and their physical development is a crucial part of their
growth. Here are some physical developmental milestones you should expect:
Head Control:
At the beginning of the month, a baby's head control is minimal, and they are
unable to support their head independently. As the month progresses, babies can
lift their heads briefly and move them from side to side while lying on their
stomach.
Weight Gain:
During the first month, babies typically gain weight, and their birth weight
may increase by up to 2 pounds. Regular feeding is essential to promote healthy
weight gain in the first month.
Reflexes:
Babies have a few reflexes, including the Moro reflex, which causes the baby to
startle and fling their arms and legs outwards. This reflex is a sign of the
baby's nervous system development.
Your 1-Month Old’s Cognitive
Development
Cognitive development involves the way a baby thinks,
learns, and communicates with the world around them. Here are some cognitive
developmental
milestones
you can expect in the first month:
Recognition: Babies are born with a natural attraction to
human faces and voices. During the first month, babies can recognize their
parents' faces and voices, and they may respond with a smile or a coo.
Visual Focus:
During the first month, a baby's vision is still developing, and they can only
see objects 8 to 12 inches away. As the month progresses, they begin to focus
on objects and may even track moving objects with their eyes.
Social and
Emotional Development: During the first month, a baby's social
and emotional development is crucial to building bonds with their caregivers.
Here are some social and emotional developmental milestones you can expect:
Crying:
Crying is a baby's primary way of communicating their needs. During the first
month, babies cry when they are hungry, tired, or need a diaper change.
Social Smiling:
As babies begin to recognize their caregivers' faces, they may smile in
response to their caregiver's smile or voice.
1-Month Old Growth: Weight and Height
At one month old, your baby has undergone a significant
amount of growth and development since birth, gaining an average of 2lbs (25%
of their birth weight). Weight and length are two important measures of a baby's
physical development, and they can vary greatly between boys and girls. At one
month old, boys tend to weigh more and be longer than girls on average.
Boys Growth at 1-month
Average weight: 10.1lbs (4.6kg)
Average length: 22 inches
(55.8cm)
Girls Growth at 1-month
Average weight: 9.3lbs (4.2kg)
Average length: 21.5 inches
(54.5cm)
There is a wide range of normal when it comes to infant
growth and development, and genetics, nutrition, sleep, and physical activity
can all play a role in a baby's weight and length. Some boys may be smaller or
shorter than the average, while some girls may be larger or longer. It's also
common for babies to experience growth spurts at different times, which can
affect their weight and length measurements.
You should consult your baby’s pediatrician if your have any
concerns about your baby's growth. Your pediatrician will actively monitor your
baby's growth at each wellness check, using weight and length measurements to
track progress and
ensure
that the baby is healthy
and developing appropriately.
Feeding a 1-Month Old – Milestones and Tips
Your Baby is still working on developing their digestive
systems and need proper nutrition to support their growth and development – so
much like since birth you will continue feeding every few hours around the
clock.
How much does a 1-month old eat
Breastfeeding:
Breast milk provides all the nutrients and hydration a baby needs for the first
six months of life. At one month old, a breastfed baby will typically consume
8-12 feedings in a 24-hour period, with each feeding lasting anywhere from 10
to 30 minutes. On average, consuming 2-3 ounces of breast milk per feeding.
Breastfed babies may feed more frequently than formula-fed
babies because breast milk is digested more quickly. Frequent feedings also
help stimulate milk production and ensure the baby is getting enough milk to
support their growth and development. It's important for to look out for your
baby’s hunger cues, such as rooting or sucking on their hands, and respond
promptly to their needs.
Formula Feeding:
It’s important to select a formula appropriate for your baby's age and needs.
At one month old, a formula-fed baby will typically consume around 2-3 ounces of
formula per feeding, with about 6-8 feedings per day. Be sure to prepare
formula according to the instructions on the package and serve it at the
appropriate temperature.
Should you wake a 1-month old to
feed?
Yes, waking your one-month-old to feed is important to
ensure they are getting enough nutrition to support their growth and
development. Breastfed babies may need to be woken up if they sleep for longer
than 3-4 hours during the day or 5 hours at night, while formula-fed babies may
need to be woken up if they sleep for longer than 4 hours during the day or 6
hours at night. Always check with your pediatrician before letting your baby
sleep longer stretches without a feeding.
Tips for waking a sleeping baby
Waking a sleeping baby can be challenging, but there are
some tips your can follow that may make the process easier:
- Change your baby's diaper: This can help wake them up and prepare them
for feeding
- Use gentle stimulation: Talk softly to the baby or stroke their cheek to
gently wake them up
- Undress your baby: This can help wake them up and make them more alert
for feeding
By monitoring your baby's hunger cues and waking them up to
feed when necessary, you can ensure your one-month-old is getting the proper
nutrition for healthy growth and development.
What to Expect at Your 1-Month-Old’s Wellness
Check
The 1-month wellness check is an important milestone in your
baby's health and development. This checkup it helps to ensure that your baby
is healthy and meeting their developmental milestones.
Here are some things you can expect at your 1-month
wellness check:
Physical Exam
During the exam, your baby’s pediatrician will perform a
thorough physical exam of your baby. This exam will include measurements of
your baby's weight, length, and head circumference. They will also examine your
baby's reflexes, muscle tone, and overall development. The healthcare provider
will also check your baby's eyes, ears, mouth, and heart to ensure they are
functioning properly.
Vaccinations
Your baby may receive their first round of vaccinations at
the 1-month wellness check. These vaccinations will help protect your baby
against certain diseases, such as hepatitis B.
Developmental Screening
The healthcare provider will also assess your baby's
developmental milestones to ensure they are meeting their age-appropriate
milestones. These milestones include things like lifting their head, responding
to sounds, and making eye contact.
Feeding and Sleep Habits
The healthcare provider will ask you about your baby's
feeding and sleep habits to ensure that they are getting enough nutrition and
rest to support their growth and development. It’s helpful if you’re been
tracking these in an app like the
Smart
Sleep Coach
so you can answer questions easily and show your
pediatrician how things are going and ask about any questions or concerns.
Diapering
Your baby should have several wet and soiled diapers each
day. Monitor their diaper output to ensure they are getting enough fluids and
are not dehydrated. Your pediatrician will likely ask about this too.
Developmental milestones
Babies develop at different rates, but by one month old,
they should be able to lift their head briefly, follow objects with their eyes,
and make some sounds.
Your 1-month old’s wellness check is an important milestone
in your baby's health and development. Your healthcare provider will perform a
physical exam, provide vaccinations, assess your baby's developmental
milestones, and ask about their feeding and sleep habits. By monitoring your
baby's health and development, you can help ensure they are growing and
developing properly.
FAQs:
What milestones should a 1-month-old hit?
At one month old, your baby should be able to lift their
head briefly when lying on their tummy, track moving objects with their eyes,
and make cooing sounds. They may also begin to display social smiles, recognize
familiar faces, and show increased alertness when awake. However, every baby
develops at their own pace, so it's important not to worry if your baby doesn't
meet all of these milestones
exactly
on schedule
.
What can a baby see at
1-month-old?
At one month old, your baby's visual acuity is still
developing and they can see objects and people from a distance of 8 to 15
inches. They are able to focus on high-contrast patterns and bold colors, such
as black and white, and are also beginning to develop depth perception.
However, their vision is still blurry and they have difficulty distinguishing
between similar shades or objects that are too close together.
What motor skills should my
1-month-old have?
At one month old, your baby's motor skills are still
developing and they will likely display some reflexive movements, such as
grasping, rooting, and startle reflexes. They may also begin to lift their head
briefly while lying on their tummy and push their legs against a surface when
placed in a standing position, but they are not yet able to support their own
weight or control their movements intentionally.
Do 1 month olds know their mom?
At one month old, your baby know’s their mother's voice and
scent, but they don’t really understand who their mother is – they just know
who comforts them and what feels familiar. However, spending time holding and
cuddling your baby, and responding to their needs and cues can help to
strengthen the bond between a mother and her newborn.
Sources
AAP. 2009. Developmental Milestones: 1 Month.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Developmental-Milestones-1-Month.aspx
AAP. 2020. How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is
Getting Enough Milk.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/How-to-Tell-if-Baby-is-Getting-Enough-Milk.aspx
AAP. 2020. How Often and How Much Should Your Baby
Eat?
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/How-Often-and-How-Much-Should-Your-Baby-Eat.aspx
AAP. 2018. AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/health-management/Pages/Well-Child-Care-A-Check-Up-for-Success.aspx
CDC. 2021. Important Milestones: Your Baby By Two
Months.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-2mo.html
CDC. 2001. Data Table of Infant Weight-for-age
Charts.
https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/html_charts/wtageinf.htm
Hirshkowitz M et al. 2015. National Sleep
Foundation's sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results
summary.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29073412/
Mayo Clinic. 2020. Infant development: Birth to 3
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https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/infant-development/art-20048012
Stanford Children's Health. Infant sleep.
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=infant-sleep-90-P02237
How We Wrote This Article
The information in
this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and
government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources
used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace
professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full
diagnosis and treatment.