Baby development: Your 1 month old baby
The first year of your newborn baby's life is an incredible time. In
just 12 months, your little one will go from a newborn who is completely
dependent on you to a baby who can walk, talk and show the first signs of
independence.
During the first month, your newborn is just getting used to this vast
and strange new world. And you get used to taking care of their many needs.
Below are some of the changes you can expect in the first month of your baby's
life.
It is important to remember that babies born prematurely will not follow
these milestones exactly. They are more likely to reach each milestone based on
due date, not birthday. Babies born a month premature will likely need an extra
month to catch up with their peers.
Growth
Don't worry if your baby loses weight in the first few days of life.
Babies are born with excess body fluids and typically lose up to 10% of their
birth weight before their weight stabilizes and they begin to grow. Babies
should be back to their birth weight by their two-week birthday and will gain
weight rapidly within the first month. Your doctor will check your child's
weight gain against the growth chart during your visits to make sure he is
growing at the correct rate.
Motor skills
The nervous system of a newborn is still maturing, but babies can do a
lot already in the first month. You will notice that your baby was born with
several natural reflexes, including suckling. Shortly after birth, they may
grasp at the breast or nipple for feeding. If you place your finger in the
child's palm, you will notice that he closes his fist around it. Babies who are
frightened quickly spread their arms and legs and then tuck them in. This is
called the Moro reflex. As early as 1 month old, your baby has the instinct to
walk. If you place your newborn's feet on a hard surface, supporting his body,
it will appear that he has taken several steps.
Although one-month-old babies can turn their heads while lying on their
stomachs, they still don't have enough neck strength to keep their heads
upright. Be sure to put your hand under the baby's head each time you pick it
up.
Sleep
Birth is hard work. For the first few weeks, it seems like all your
newborn wants to do is sleep. In fact, newborn babies sleep between 15 and 16
hours a day. This time may not be regular as the child has not yet adjusted to
the normal day/night cycle. You can help your toddler adjust by limiting
activities to daytime and keeping him quiet, dark, and bored at night. In the
end, they will understand that the day is for games and the night is for sleep.
Also, your one-month-old baby's sleep cycles are very different from
yours. Unlike adults, newborns spend more time in REM sleep than in deeper
non-REM sleep. This means they can wake up quite easily in the first few weeks.
The senses
Babies are born with very blurry vision. Newborn babies are very
nearsighted. Your baby can see objects and people more clearly when they are
only 20-30 cm away. This means they can see your face while breastfeeding, and
in fact they will look at you rather than a stuffed animal because babies are
naturally drawn to human faces. They also prefer high contrast objects because
they are easier to see.
You may notice that your one-month-old's eyes squint when he tries to
focus. This is normal, as a newborn's vision is not yet fully developed.
However, if they remain crossed after three or four months, call your
pediatrician as this could be a sign of strabismus.
Although a newborn's hearing is not yet fully developed, babies can
recognize sounds. They especially like high sounds; so don't get too annoyed
when your mother-in-law uses that squeaky baby voice every time she talks to
your newborn baby. If your baby doesn't seem to be responding to sounds at all,
be sure to let your pediatrician know during your visits to the doctor. Many
states test the hearing of all babies at birth, but be sure to report hearing
problems to your pediatrician, even if the birth test was correct.
Like many older children, babies prefer sweets. Their taste buds are not
yet mature enough to distinguish bitter from sour. They have a well-developed
sense of smell and from the first days of life they can catch the smell of the
mother's nipple and breast milk.
Eating
For the first month, expect your breastfed baby to eat eight to 12 times
a day. Formula-fed babies may only need six to eight times. Some parents feed
on demand, while others stick to a schedule. You will know when your baby is
hungry because he will dig or become restless and turn his mouth when you touch
his cheek. A full baby will seem happy and may even fall asleep. Look for four
to six wet diapers a day as a sign that your baby is eating enough.
Communication
Monthly babies have almost one way of communicating. Your baby will cry
for up to three hours a day. Crying is a child's way of saying, "I'm
hungry, feed me!" "My diaper is wet" or "I'm very
tired." crying and learn how to soothe them. Some babies who cry too much
may have colic or illness, so call your doctor if you just can't comfort your
newborn.
Tips for your baby's first month:
Babies love to be touched. Give your one-month-old baby lots of
skin-to-skin contact, such as holding and rocking him or giving him a gentle
massage. This will make your newborn baby feel comforted and loved.
Move your baby's legs around like a bicycle for a few minutes. This simple exercise will help tone your muscles and prepare them for crawling and walking.