Your One Month Old

Developmental Milestones*

  • Your baby can lift his head slightly for a few seconds when lying on his stomach.
  • He focuses his eyes on your face and appears to recognize it.
  • He moves his arms and legs equally on both sides.
  • With his eyes, he'll follow an object moved about six inches above his face.


*All babies develop differently. If your 1-month-old hasn't yet reached these milestones, rest assured that he will soon. If you have concerns about your baby's development, please schedule an appointment.

Your newborn's reflexes

  • Grasp: His little hand will grip your finger when you stroke his palm.
  • Startle: When he's startled by a loud noise or a quick movement, your baby will thrust out his arms and legs, then draw them back and cry.
  • Rooting: When you rub the corner of your baby's mouth, he'll immediately turn toward your finger. This rooting instinct is what helps him feed.
  • Sucking: Your baby is ready and willing to suck for feeding; sucking also comforts him.  Many babies, if not given a pacifier, will suck their thumbs or fingers to sooth themselves.  
  • Tonic neck: Lie your newborn on his side, and watch how he extends his arm and leg on the side he's lying on, and flexes the arm and leg on the opposite side.
  • Walking: Although he's far from ready for the real thing, if you support your baby upright in a standing position, you'll see him naturally try to step out.

What else can they do?

Seeing: Your baby's vision tends to be nearsighted: he's able to focus best on objects eight to 15 inches away. Bold shapes and black-and-white patterns attract his attention but he can see in color.  He's already turning his head and eyes to look at you and mimic your facial expressions.

Hearing: Your baby knows your voice well, and he responds to it by growing quieter or more excited. Speak to your baby often or sing.  From you your newborn will learn to speak and to listen. You'll also discover that babies like the sound of music. 

Sleep?

During these first weeks, your little one will sleep -- and sleep -- and sleep. It is normal for a newborn to sleep for up to 18 hours per day.  As long as the baby does not sleep through for feedings, this is okay.   And if you're probably hoping that his longest sleep stretches will occur during the night, don't count on it, at least not for a while. One way to try to get longer stretches at night is to wake him if he sleeps for more than three hours at a time during the day. 

Please have your newborn sleep on their back, as this is the best way to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).  Also, we advise not to have any stuffed animals or pillows in the bed with the babies

Feeding

If you're breastfeeding, plan to nurse every two to three hours. You'll know he's getting enough to eat if he seems satisfied following the feeding, if he continues to have wet diapers, and stays within a normal growth curve.

If your baby is taking formula from a bottle, plan on feeding him every three to four hours. Initially, he'll eat about two to four fluid ounces at each feeding, but gradually the amount will increase. 24-36 ounces in a twenty-four hour period is normal. 

Please do not feed your baby water.  It is not necessary and too much can cause problems. 

Newborn Screen

The New York State Newborn Screening Program performs more than 11 million tests annually for more than 40 congenital diseases including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  Although most of the disorders are rare, they are usually serious. Some may be life threatening; others may slow down a baby's physical development or cause mental retardation or other problems if left untreated.   The tests for all of these conditions are performed on one tiny sample of blood obtained by pricking the baby's heel. The sample is routinely taken the day of hospital discharge. Test results are usually sent to the physician on file.  If you haven’t heard about your baby’s results by the time your baby turns one month old, please contact our office. 

Parental Support

Please remember that taking care of a baby can be difficult at times and downright exhausting.  Do not hesitate to ask for help if you need a break.  This is NORMAL.   Try to sleep when your baby sleeps.  Stay rested and eat well.  If you need to have someone watch your baby so you can sleep or eat, that is okay and strongly recommended.  If you feel you need help and do not have anyone to help you, please contact our office.

WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR YOUR ONE MONTH OLD:

• Fever higher then 100.4°F RECTALLY.   Please do not give Tylenol.

• Difficulty breathing

• Forceful, repeated vomiting

• Blood in the urine or stool

• Inconsolable crying

• Extreme lethargy

• Refusal to feed

• White patches in the mouth

• Discharge from the eyes, nails, navel, or genitals

• If umbilical cord has not fallen off by this time