How fragile and beautiful is your tiny 1-month-old newborn! While you might think they don’t do much other than drink milk, sleep and cry, your baby is actually growing and developing rapidly.
Let’s find out what milestones to expect in the first month of your precious 1-month-old baby’s life.
1-Month-Old Baby Developmental Milestones: Is Your Baby Getting Ready to Face the World?
1-Month-Old: Physical Developmental Milestones
When a baby is born, they already have some amazing abilities though they have a long way to go in terms of developmental milestones.
A newborn without complications has the instincts to breathe, tightly hold fingers, and can even smell you and know you from any other person. Incredibly, some babies even suck their thumbs when still in the womb!
Despite the fact that a baby is born with all of these incredible skills, for the first month of your baby’s life, it can seem that all they do is lots of eating, sleeping, crying, and of course, peeing and pooping.
At this age, babies have very little control of their muscles and instead rely mainly on reflex actions, such as sucking, yawning, sneezing and crying.
As a 1-month-old baby progresses through the first month of life, they begin to discover that they have control of their body. Discovering their hands is a big moment. It gets even more exciting when your baby realises they can use those hands to squeeze things like your finger or to suck on for comfort when hungry!
Crawling, walking, running, and even dancing will happen sooner than you think. But the road to these skills starts when your 1-month-old baby discovers their own body and begins to interact with the surrounding world.
Speaking of motor skills, your 1-month-old baby should be able to kick when on their back, grasp your finger, follow your movements with their eyes, and might even be able to raise their head when on their tummy.
It may seem that not much is going on regarding developmental milestones, however, all of your baby’s senses are getting better.
Sight
What can you see at 1 month old?
A newborn can open their eyes and see almost immediately after being born. Though their eyes are not yet able to focus on things that are farther away than one metre, your baby can focus perfectly on your face when you hold them in your arms – which is the distance from your breast to your eyes.
Don’t be alarmed if your baby appears cross-eyed at times. This is normal in an infant this young.
Hearing
A newborn can hear from around 28 weeks of pregnancy. From inside your womb, they listen to the sounds of your body and voice and noises from the outside world. Studies have found that newborns react more strongly to the higher pitch of a female voice than to a deeper male voice.
Smell
A baby’s nose is sensitive. Your 1 month old can already tell the difference between your smell and that of another person.
Taste
Your baby is a breastmilk connoisseur! Their well-developed sense of taste (babies have more taste buds than adults) is finely tuned towards the delicious taste of your breastmilk.
Touch
Everyone needs the human touch to promote feelings of well-being and happiness. Baby massage is a great way to bond with your baby, and he will find the touch of your hands comforting and soothing, just as an adult would! Gentle massage also helps with baby development, specifically your newborn’s muscles.
Another important part of your 1-month-old baby’s physical developmental milestones includes their reflexes.
Newborn babies are born with a number of reflexes, which are vital for survival. These include the rooting reflex which enables your baby to find your breast when their cheek is placed nearby; the sucking and swallowing reflexes that allow your baby to drink, and the gagging reflex which prevents them from taking too much liquid.
There’s also the very cute grasp reflex, which is when your little one tightly holds on to your finger when placed on his palm, and the Moro reflex, responsible for making your baby startle at loud noises.
Ideal Weight and Height for a 1-month-old Baby
At this stage, your child’s median length and weight* should be as follows:
- Boys
– Length: 54.8 cm (21.6 inches)
– Weight: 4.4 kg (9.8 lb)
- Girls
– Length: 53.8 cm (21.2 inches)
– Weight: 4.3kg (9.6lb)
And your child’s head circumference* should be:
- Boys: 37.3 cm (14.7 inches)
- Girls: 36.6 cm (14.4 inches
How to support your 1 month old’s physical development
- Work towards helping your 1-month-old baby’s sensory developmental milestones. Activities include talking and singing to your baby so their sense of hearing develops, as well as cuddling them often to stimulate touch.
- Breastfeeding on demand, meanwhile, nurtures babies’ sense of taste and makes them feel secure and loved. Dads, try to make the pitch of your voice higher when you interact with your 1-month-old baby, as this will help your child bond with you better.
- Don’t go crazy with the colourful toys just yet. When your baby is this young, they prefer looking at images, toys or mobiles in high-contrast colours: black, white and red, for example. These also help to strengthen vision.
- Gently massage your baby’s hands, legs, back, and tummy to strengthen their muscles. A gentle tummy massage in a clockwise direction helps your 1-month-old baby to pass wind, releasing any discomfort they may have.
- When a baby is put down on their tummy, they will automatically turn their head to help them breathe. This is known as the labyrinthine reflex. So tummy time is essential. A few minutes two to three times a day is enough. Always do this when you are around; never leave your 1 month old baby alone on their tummy.
Consult a doctor if your baby:
- Is in visible discomfort if you gently turn their head from side to side.
- Does not respond to loud noises.
- Has persistent trouble moving their eyes or remains cross-eyed.
- Has stiffness or floppiness in their body.
Your 1 month old baby will gaze intensely at you.
Cognitive Development
Cognitive development is the construction of thought processes, including remembering, problem-solving and decision-making. Too advanced for a one-month-old baby? Not at all!
Beginning immediately, babies soak up information about this new world and the people in it. Your baby is constantly watching you, listening to what you say, and observing their surroundings. All this stimulates cognitive development.
Cognitive developmental milestones in babies depend on various antenatal and postnatal factors such as the mother’s health during pregnancy, the gestational age of the baby at delivery (for example, a baby born at 38 weeks may reach milestones slower than a baby born at 40 weeks), complications at the time of birth, illness during early years, as well as genetics and environmental factors.
How to promote your 1 month old’s brain development
At this young age, it is difficult to assess cognitive development, but there are many things you can do to give your little one’s brain a good “head start”.
- Show your 1-month-old baby picture books with bright, contrasting colours. Baby will enjoy gazing at the pictures and hearing your voice, both which will stimulate cognition.
- Talk and sing to your little one often. Hearing your voice calms them down and tells them you are right there.
- Give your baby toys that make gentle sounds to stimulate the brain and sense of hearing.
Consult a doctor if your baby:
- Does not respond to the sound of your voice.
- Does not gaze at you or other objects.
Emotional and Social Developmental Milestones
Newborns don’t cry because they are bored, but because they have a need to be fulfilled (hungry, wet, overtired, too warm or cold, etc). It is very important you do not ignore your newborn’s cries, or leave them in distress for long periods of time.
Crying is the way your baby communicates, and they need your help with it. Ignoring your baby can harm emotional developmental milestones. If you are having trouble calming your baby, seek out tips here.
Mums and dads, you should know that your baby is emotionally attuned to you. So, if you’re happy, they can sense it and if you’re stressed or anxious, they will be upset too.
How to nurture your 1 month old’s emotional development
- Communicate with your 1-month-old baby in a slow, gentle voice. This will calm and reassure them of your presence and love.
- Never let your 1-month-old baby “cry it out”. They need your touch to settle and soothe. Depriving baby of this may harm their emotional development, and later, regulation.
Consult a doctor if your baby:
- Rarely settles when you carry, touch or talk to him.
Image Source: iStock
Speech and Language Development
An interesting thing about baby developmental milestones is that the foundations for speech and language begin when a baby first develops hearing. This can be as early as when they are in your womb!
While your 1 month old won’t start to talk words for a few more months yet, their first “baby talk” is non-verbal and happens soon after birth. Your newborn grimaces, cries, and squirms to express a range of emotions and physical needs, from fear and hunger to frustration and sensory overload. Your baby may even coo, gurgle or laugh when you speak lovingly or sing!
How to encourage your 1 month old’s speech and language development:
- Even though your baby might not be speaking yet, talk a lot to them. This will engage your little one in a “conversation” of sorts. In a few months, they might just start responding to you, but the foundation is laid right at the beginning.
- Music is a great way to communicate and bond with your baby, whether it’s singing, or playing soft, gentle music.
Consult a doctor if your baby:
- Is not responding to your voice, there might be a need to assess his hearing capabilities.
Health and Nutrition
At this age, all your baby needs to grow and thrive is your breastmilk – nothing else. However, if you cannot breastfeed your baby for some reason, then the only other suitable food is formula milk.
Typically, the amount of breast milk/formula milk for your baby at this stage is:
- Breastmilk: 19.3-30.4 ounces/day
- Formula: 24 ounces/day
Baby boys of this age need around 466.6 calories per day, while baby girls need slightly less at 457.7.
Your breast milk contains the perfect mix of vitamins, minerals, fats and other nutrients to boost your little one’s mental and physical growth, and is tailor-made to their needs. It even contains antibodies that protect the baby against illness. Throwing up a bit, or possetting after a feed is normal at this age.
From the time your baby is born until they are around two weeks old, some weight loss is normal. But after that, your little one’s weight will slowly stabilise.
By now, your baby’s umbilical stump would have dried up and fallen off, leaving a perfectly cute kissable belly button in its place.
Your baby’s fontanelle (the soft spot on his head) is still open and vulnerable, so care must be taken when touching the baby’s head, or when giving them a bath. Their neck is still not sturdy, so remember to support their head by placing a hand on the neck when carrying them.
Mummy, you must be feeling rather sleep-deprived as your little one’s sleep schedule is non-existent. Don’t worry – it does slowly get better. Do try to sleep whenever your baby sleeps, even if it’s just for 30 minutes.
How to support your newborn’s health:
- At 1 month old, your baby’s immunity is still developing. So it’s best to not allow other people to kiss your little one’s face or hands. If carrying him, they should wash their hands well, first.
- It’s best to breastfeed your baby on demand, remembering to empty each breast during a nursing session. You could use a breastfeeding bracelet to remind you of which side baby last fed from.
- Your baby is still too young to understand the difference between day at night. But you can create a semblance of it by drawing the curtains and turning down the lights in the evening if he’s sleeping. This will help him gradually understand that we sleep at night and stay awake during daytime.
- Ensure safe sleep always to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Swaddle your baby and place him on his back to sleep, never on his tummy. His cot or crib should be free of pillows, blankets and stuffed toys. You can control his body temperature with appropriate sleep-clothes and air-conditioning.
Vaccinations and Common Illnesses
Your newborn should get:
- Hepatitis B – 2nd dose: Immunisation against Hepatitis B
Do speak to your doctor about it, as well as other immunisations to follow. You can check your baby’s immunisation schedule by clicking this link.
Your baby’s immune system is still very immature. This combined with an incomplete vaccination schedule makes them very vulnerable to common illnesses like the common cold. While a cold is not a big deal in an older child, in a newborn it could lead to even more severe consequences.
This is why it’s crucial you and all others who handle your baby practice strict hygiene, which must include frequent hand-washing. Wear a mask if you have a cold or cough, and any other family members or friends with colds or who are sick should stay far away from the baby until they are better.
Nobody should ever kiss your baby on their face, mouth, hands or feet as this could potentially transmit the fatal HPV virus to your little one.
Treating Common Illnesses
In the event your little one gets a cold or other common illness, you should bring them to the paediatrician immediately. At just 1 month old, your baby is too young for any kind of home remedies.
Newborn Jaundice
Your baby was born with a yellow tint to his or her skin. This is called jaundice, and it’s not uncommon for newborns to have it. Most babies get better within a few days with no treatment, but if you’re concerned, ask your baby’s doctor about it.
When to See a Doctor:
If your baby:
- Is rapidly losing weight.
- Seems to be vomiting a lot of liquid after every feed.
- Has a sunken fontanelle.
- Appears listless.
- Still has jaundice.
- Has even a slightly raised temperature.
- Has discharge from their genitals.
It is important to remember that while your baby is growing and changing quickly, there are emotional and physical stresses also being felt by you, the parents.
New mothers often feel pressure to look and feel a certain way, and expect parenthood to come naturally. Rest assured that for most people, adjusting to becoming a parent and the changes to your body, emotions, and the course of your life, can take time.
Your baby’s previous week: Baby development and milestones: your 3-week-old
Your baby’s next month: Baby development and milestones: your 2-month-old
Updates by Pheona Ilagan
*Disclaimer: This is the median length and weight, and head circumference according to WHO standards)
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.
Do you have questions on this 1 month old baby development guide? Share with us in the comments!
