We last talked about First Year Baby: Newborn Development Milestones, and now let’s head into their first month!
Having your one-month-old baby in your arms, you might have this question in mind: What should my 1-month-old be doing?
While it might slightly differ for every baby, there are some developmental milestones that you can keep track of.
[Please bear in mind these developmental milestones does not apply to pre-matured babies.]
Read on to discover every aspect of your 1-month-old baby!
One-Month Developmental Milestones In Different Aspects
1-Month-Old Sleep
You can expect your one-month-old to sleep about 15 to 16 hours per day with around three naps during the daytime. As for the night, he would sleep for around eight and a half hours with interruptions.
If your baby doesn’t fall asleep easily, she might be overstimulated or uncomfortable. Or, he just needs more cuddle from you. Try out with different methods to identify the root cause.
If this situation persists, do consult your paediatrician.
1-Month-Old Feeding
With your one-month-old baby, you should feed him with only breast milk or formula or even a combination of both. Here’s how much a one-month-old baby should eat.
- If you are feeding your baby with formula, he should have four ounces for every four hours.
- If you are breastfeeding your baby, he should be breastfed for every two to three hours.
In addition, you can look for these two signs to know that your baby has had enough to eat:
- seems satisfied or even fall asleep in the middle of the feeding process
- has four to six wet diapers per day
Speaking of diapering, you should change your baby’s diaper as soon as it becomes soiled. This is essential in preventing diaper rash. So, here’s how you can get your baby from a dirty diaper into a clean one effectively:
To ensure that the diaper is not loose or too tight on your baby, simply test it by ensuring that you can fit two fingers in between the diaper and your baby’s skin at his waist.
Don’t forget to burp your baby after the feeding to avoid any stomach issues, too.
Key Milestones In Growth
Here’s the average weight and length gain that you can expect from your one-month-old baby.
- Weight: will grow around 0.68 to 0.9kg
- Length: will gain 2.55cm t0 3.8cm
Key Milestones in Skill Development and Senses
Key Milestones In Movement
- Attempts to turn his head from side to side
- Tries to hold his head up when he’s on his tummy
- Keeps hands in tight fists
- Portrays strong reflex movements
While starting to stretch his arms from his body, he would try to stretch and kick her legs out too to strengthen his leg muscles.
Wondering whether your baby can walk at his first month?
Having the instinct for walking, he will appear to take a few steps if you support him on a solid surface.
Key Milestones In Five Senses
- Cries out of distress or when they were upset
- Starts to make eye contact with anyone close to him and stare at faces
- Focuses 8 to 12 inches away
- Can follow objects briefly with his eyes
- Prefers objects with black and white patterns
- Prefers human face
- Notices sounds around him
- Prefers sweet smell
- Prefers soft sensations over rough handling
You will start to notice your baby always gazes at you whenever you are talking. If you wish to attract your baby’s attention, just keep him nearby you and continue talking. No toy is needed to get his attention!
On top of this, he would coo and make some sounds whenever he sees his parents. So, here’s the golden time for you to repeat some sounds to them so that they can mimic and say out those sounds.
Looking into soothing your baby’s cries, you can try out swaddling. Swaddling is a technique in which you wrap up your baby in a blanket to make him fell secured and warm.
Simply follow the following steps to make your own ‘baby burrito’ for swaddling.
Mind that you should stop swaddling when your baby is two-month-old where he is trying to roll.
Supporting Your Baby in His One-Month Developmental Milestones
You can shower your baby with more love by spending more time with him. You can talk or even tell him stories while choosing to play with him during your free time. You can first start with using words, sounds, and facial expressions, while allowing him to reply you with his coos, gurgles and smiles.
Additionally, you can try out these six activities with your one-month-old baby for more excitement and growth.
Witnessing Your Baby Grow in an Instant
You are now clearer about your baby’s one month developmental milestones, but in truth it’s more about spending more time with him.
You would realise it is worth your time as you would be able to witness those satisfying moments of your baby trying out new things. And these moments would not come again if you were to miss it.
So, let’s cherish our moment with our lovely little babies and look forward to more milestones to be achieved!
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