1-Month-Old Baby: Settling In

Having your baby at home with you in the first few weeks might have felt overwhelming. As the weeks progress and you gradually adjust to this new little person in your life, you might soon be feeling more confident and comfortable. Don’t get too comfortable though! Newborns develop and change rapidly, and your baby will be keeping you on your toes in weeks five, six, seven, and eight. To help you feel more prepared we’ll outline some typical milestones for a 1-month-old baby, cover what you need to know about feeding and sleeping at this stage, and give you a heads-up on potential issues you might face, like colic and cradle cap.

Baby Development Milestones

Your baby is unique (you knew that, of course!) and it’s normal for her to grow at her own pace. Don’t be surprised if your baby’s development in one area seems to lag for a few weeks, only for her to catch up soon after. Here are some of the baby milestones to look forward to now that your baby is 1 month old.

Growth and Physical Development: Chubby Cheeks

Does it seem as if your baby’s growing out of her clothes at supersonic speed? On average, babies gain about 1 to 1 ½ inches in length and about 1 ½ to 2 pounds in weight this month. At the upcoming health checkup, your healthcare provider will look at your 1-month-old baby’s weight, length, and head circumference and plot these key measurements on baby growth charts. What matters is that your baby grows at a steady rate. Having said that, your baby will go through growth spurts from time to time.

You might notice that your baby’s head is disproportionately larger than her body. This is perfectly normal: her head’s growing a little faster and her body will soon catch up. Your baby will also start to lengthen and develop stronger muscles. Luckily, she’ll still have those cute chubby cheeks for some time to come!

Senses: Eyes on That Rattle

In every waking moment, your baby is slowly taking in the sights, sounds, and smells around her. This month, your baby may be able to better focus on faces and objects, and may soon start to track them with her eyes as they move in front of her. In the next month or so she may also start to reach for objects. For example, if you hold a rattle in front of her she may start batting at it.

Movement: Working on Those Leg Muscles

This month, your baby’s movements will mostly still be reflexive, but some of the reflexes present in the baby growth charts may gradually start to disappear and be replaced by more controlled movement. When she’s on her tummy she may briefly hold her head up, and she may start to stretch her arms out more instead of holding them close to her body. She may also start to stretch and kick her legs out. It might seem like a little thing but she’s actually working hard to strengthen her leg muscles. Keep in mind: Even very young babies can roll over from time to time, so make sure you keep an eye — and hand — on her when she’s up somewhere high like a changing table.

Crying and Communication: Mom, I'm Bored (or Hungry)!

This month your baby can probably start communicating in a clearer way. For example, if she’s bored she may let you know by crying out until she’s shown something new. If she’s amused, she may respond by smiling. Around this time, you might also start being able to tell the difference between her hungry cries, tired cries, and irritated cries. If you haven’t experienced it yet, this month you might see her first true smile, sometime called the social smile. She'll flash that little grin when she's awake, in response to something like the sound of your voice — and your heart will melt.

How to Support Your Baby’s Development

Here are some things you could try this month:

• Cuddle time. Cuddle your baby as much as possible — it's a great way for you and your baby to bond! Experts say the more quickly and consistently you comfort your baby when she’s upset in the first six months, the less demanding she may be when she’s older.

• Visual stimulation. At this stage, your baby might prefer to look at objects that have straight lines on them, such as stripes or checkerboard patterns. Choose a mobile or toys with bright, contrasting colors and patterns – she won’t be able to take her eyes off this visual feast!

• Tactile toys. Your baby is getting to know the world through touch, too. Give her toys with different textures, shapes, and sizes.

• Talking with your baby. Have a conversation with your baby by letting her “talk” using her coos, gurgles, and smiles, and talk back to her using words, sounds, and facial expressions. In time, your baby will learn to imitate you, so these early “conversations” are great for her development.

• Getting physical. Gently stretch your baby’s arms in front of her to form a “clap”; move your baby’s legs as if she were cycling; and continue to practice tummy time. All of these help develop her muscles and movement.

• Bonding. Establishing security and trust with your baby allows her to reach her full potential.

Playing with your baby is a great way to support essential growth and development, but keep in mind that there’s only so much new information young babies can take in. Watch for signs that your baby has had enough — she might look away or cry — and give her a chance to rest.

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Feeding Your 1-Month-Old Baby

You may be wondering how much to feed your 1-month-old baby as she grows. Continue to feed your baby whenever she seems hungry. At this age, that’s probably about eight times in a 24-hour period for breastfed babies or about every three to four hours for bottle-fed babies. If your baby is mid-growth spurt she may want to eat a little more often.

If you’re breastfeeding, check out our go-to guide to discover essential breastfeeding basics.

Burping Your Baby

Babies can swallow air when they feed — more often when they’re bottle-fed than when nursing. This swallowed air can make them feel uncomfortable and fussy. To help, burp your baby during bottle feeds, or when you switch her from one breast to the other. Make sure you have a burp cloth or a small blanket covering your clothes to guard against spit-up milk or formula, and try one of these burping positions and techniques:

Tracking wet and dirty diapers: At this stage, babies may produce about four to six wet diapers a day. When it comes to poopy diapers, there is a wide range of what’s “normal.” Most babies will have at least one bowel movement a day, but some babies may go several days or a week without pooping. This is likely totally OK so long as the consistency of the stool is normal — in other words soft and a little runny — and your 1-month-old baby is eating well and gaining weight. Consult your baby’s healthcare provider if you’re concerned you might be seeing too few diapers.

Given all the diapering going on, keep in mind that your baby’s fragile skin needs soft, comfortable diapers — such as Pampers Swaddlers. Watch this short video about Pampers Swaddlers for sensitive skin. Download the Pampers Rewards app and you can even turn diapers and wipes into rewards and discounts.

How Much Sleep Does a 1-Month-Old Baby Need?

At this age babies sleep about 14 to 17 hours a day — including about five naps during the day. With some luck, your baby might start to sleep for longer stretches at night from about 6 weeks of age. You might be feeling super tired, but there is light at the end of the tunnel: Over time, your baby’s sleep cycle will slowly get closer to yours. Of course, eventually, your baby will develop a bedtime routine and her biological sleeping rhythms will emerge, but for now it’s important to allow your baby to sleep whenever she’s drowsy. This is when she’ll get the best quality sleep. Always put your baby to sleep on her back.

If your baby cries when you put her down, soothe her by rocking her, playing relaxing music, or talking to her softly. Feel free to pick her up for a few minutes and return her to the crib when she seems calm again. Read why your baby might wake up at night for more on this topic.

A Day in the Life of Your Baby

Early Hygiene Habits

Perhaps you’re already a pro at bathtime, but if you still need some inspiration, check out our video on how to make baby bathtime fun for your newborn.

Your Baby’s Health: When Is Crying Colic?

All babies cry from time to time, but crying may be a condition called colic if

• your baby seems to cry each evening for hours on end

• the crying sounds high-pitched

• the crying seems to be for no apparent reason

• you have a hard time calming him when he is crying.

Your healthcare provider may make a diagnosis of colic if your little one cries for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for at least three weeks straight. Colic often starts when a baby is 2 to 4 weeks old and can last until the baby is about 3 to 4 months old.

Experts aren't sure about the cause of colic, but some potential factors could include:

• Gas. It could be that your baby cries because of discomfort associated with gas. If you notice your baby has a distended stomach and passes gas while crying, this could be the cause. Don’t overfeed your baby. If his tummy seems distended with gas, try to lay him across your knees on his tummy, as this extra pressure on him belly may feel good for him.

• Sensitivity to stimulation. Your baby may feel overwhelmed and may not yet be able to soothe himself, leading him to cry. You can try to console him by holding him while walking, rocking him in a rocking chair, putting him in a vibrating baby seat, or driving him around.

• Food sensitivity. Some breastfed babies may be intolerant or sensitive to a food in mom’s diet, causing discomfort and resulting in crying. Rarely, the discomfort may be caused by a sensitivity to milk protein in formula. Your baby’s healthcare provider will be able to check for and diagnose any food sensitivity or intolerance.

• Medical problem. In some cases, your baby may be reacting to discomfort resulting from an illness or other problem such as a hernia, which your baby’s doctor will be able to check for and treat.

Although colic usually only lasts a few months, this can seem like a lifetime when your baby is in the middle of a crying spell! Sometimes, nothing will seem to work to calm him and your nerves may fray. Never shake your baby. Instead, leave him safely in his crib for a short time and take a break in another room, or ask a loved one to care for him for a few hours so you can have some much-deserved “me time.” With colic, there is light at the end of the tunnel; in a few months or so those colicky crying spells will likely come to an end.

Other health issues to know about include:

• Cradle cap. This condition consists of scaly patches on your baby’s head. Washing his hair and gently combing out the scales may help; if not, your baby’s healthcare provider may recommend a special shampoo. Read more about cradle cap.

• Diarrhea. If your baby has loose, watery stools that outnumber how many feeds he’s had in a day, let your healthcare provider know.

• Constipation. If your baby hasn’t had a bowel movement in several days and this is unusual for him, or if you think he may be constipated, reach out to your provider.

• Vomiting. If your baby is vomiting forcefully (i.e., projectile vomiting), is vomiting for more than 8 hours or after a couple of feedings, or if any kind of vomiting is accompanied by fever or diarrhea, check in with the doctor.

• Spitting up. Spitting up a small amount after nursing or being burped can be normal, especially if it happens within about an hour of feeding. If your baby seems irritable during feeds or shows any other signs of being unwell, contact your baby’s healthcare provider to make sure everything is OK.

• Baby acne. At the start of this month, pimples may appear on your baby’s face. These bumps are thought to be a result of hormones passed to your baby via the placenta which have caused the stimulation of oil glands. Try placing a clean receiving blanket under his head while he's awake, and wash his face once a day with a mild baby soap.

Regular Health Visits and Immunizations

Regular checkups at this early stage typically take place when your baby turns 1 month old and again when he’s 2 months old. Of course, you can call your baby’s healthcare provider any time you have a question or concern, even between visits. At your baby’s regular checkups your baby’s provider will

• check your baby’s growth and development

• do a physical exam

• complete any screening tests that haven’t been done yet

• ask how you’re doing and perhaps offer advice

• answer all of your questions

• give you an idea of what to expect in the coming weeks and months

• schedule or give your baby any immunizations that may be required in the coming weeks.

Your Life as a Parent: A Problem Shared Is a Problem Halved

You might be feeling more confident this month as some of the uncertainty you may have felt during the first few weeks starts to fade away. Still, talk about any concerns you have with trusted loved ones or your healthcare provider. A problem shared is a problem halved, and you might be surprised how much better you feel afterward.

If you're breastfeeding, you might experience discomfort resulting from a breast infection called mastitis. Contact your healthcare provider if you notice symptoms such as sore breasts, fever, or nausea. Don’t stop nursing as this will make things worse. Keep in mind that it’s safe for your baby to nurse when you have mastitis — the milk is not infected. Treatment for mastitis includes expressing milk from your breasts either by feeding or pumping, but your provider may also recommend antibiotics. Get plenty of rest and drink lots of water to help your body fight the infection. Here’s more about what mastitis is and how to treat it.

Checklist for This Month

• If you haven’t already been to the appointment, schedule and take your baby to his 1-month-old health checkup.

• Sign up for a baby first aid course and encourage others who care for your baby to attend along with you. If you’re unsure where to find such a course near you, ask your healthcare provider — they’ll know one in your local area.

• If you’re eager to know what’s ahead next month, take a look at what you might experience once your baby is 2 months old.