1 Month Baby Development

After a long period of pregnancy and birth, you finally got your baby. The process of tracking your pregnancy week by week is now over! We will examine your baby’s development, growth, nutrition, movements, emotional, mental and social abilities together on a monthly basis. Don’t think about how much change can happen in the first month and be ready to encounter a new discovery every day! Here is 1 month baby development!

First of all, you have to accept that your baby will not be born with a pink and baby-like smoothness. Although it is not valid for every baby, features such as swelling in the head anatomy, redness, especially in the eyebrow and forehead area, acne, flattening in the nose, swelling in the genitals and genital area can be seen in many babies. However, swelling in the genitals and head may not always be normal. You should not neglect to consult your doctor.

1 Month Baby Development Chart

	Girl (average)	Male (average)
1 month old baby weight	4 kg	4,3 kg
1 month old baby size	53 cm	55 cm
1 month old baby head circumference	36,5 cm	37,3 cm

• When the baby is born, he loses the excess fluid in his body. So when he gets home, the baby may be slightly under his birth weight. Don’t be alarmed by this, weight gain in 1-month-old babies increases within 10 days to 2 weeks.
• Your baby grows rapidly in the first two weeks. As the weight increases, so does the length. At the end of the 1-month period, your baby will grow about 4-5 cm.
• The size of your baby’s head circumference is important. Because the growth rate of the head shows the growth rate of the brain. During the first months, both your baby’s brain and skull grow rapidly. A baby’s head makes up 20% of its body weight at birth and 2% in adulthood. You should get information about the head development of the 1-month-old baby under the doctor’s control.

1 Month Baby Reflexes

We don’t Reflex

The sucking reflex is a habit that the baby acquires while in the womb. To test it, you can observe that when you bring your hand, bottle, pacifier, or breast to your cheek, it turns your head and mouth in that direction.

Moro Reflection

This reflex is also seen in 1 month old baby development. This is a stance that emerges immediately in the face of a particular stimulus. It usually happens if your baby’s head suddenly changes position or is startled by a violent situation. In the face of these stimuli, the baby raises his hands and feet, stretches his neck and joins his hands. His chin may tremble.

Tonic Neck

One of the interesting reflexes is the tonic neck reflex. It occurs when the arm in the direction of the baby’s head turns upright and the other arm is bent.

Stepping Reflex

Another reflex he has is the stepping reflex. When she lifts her baby under the armpit, she will pretend to take a step or pretend to walk. This is called the stepping reflex. But it is a movement that he will forget when he is about 4 months old and learn again when he gets up after crawling.

catching reflex

When she puts her finger on her baby’s hand, she can immediately grab it and pull herself up. However, as can be observed in other 1-month-old baby reflexes, this reflex will also change, and from the 3rd and 4th months it will disappear spontaneously as it will return to consciously catching.

Let’s see when these reflexes start and end?

Reflex	Age started	age lost
More reflection	at birth	2. is
stepping reflex	at birth	2. is
search reflex	at birth	4. is
tonic neck reflex	at birth	5-7. is
palm catching reflex	at birth	5-6. is
Footprint catching reflex	at birth	9-12. is

Sensory Development of 1 Month Old Baby

1 Month Old Baby’s Vision

• In your mind “When do babies see?” have a question? Of course, they begin to see as soon as they are born, but at short distances!
• In the first month, he looks at life with a viewing angle of only 15 to 30 cm. Do not be sad; This distance does not prevent him from seeing you while he is sucking! Let him examine and get to know you.
• “How does a 1-month-old baby see?” Let’s answer the question. Babies see distant objects blurry, but their vision improves over time.
• Dark-colored objects usually attract your baby’s attention. That’s why you should bring dark and bright colored objects into view to attract his attention.
• He can follow objects for a short time when he brings them closer to his line of sight.

Hearing Ability of 1 Month Old Baby

• Your baby’s eyesight may not be developed enough yet, but he is sensitive to human voices. Especially against your voice!
• Since yours is the most heard voice in the womb, it is perfectly natural for a 1-month-old baby to recognize the mother and react as soon as she hears her voice. You should take this opportunity to comfort him and talk to your baby a lot.
• Some babies may be more sensitive to noise than other babies. Some babies may begin to cry when they hear noise, while others may sleep soundly in the noise.
• In some cases, you may feel that your baby is not responding to outside sounds. Don’t worry! Your baby may be a newborn, but he is used to hearing many sounds from the street to the sound of the TV, from your speech to the sound of the horn in the womb, and it is very natural that he does not react as if he is hearing it for the first time. If you are still worried that you may have hearing loss, there is no harm in consulting your doctor, do not hesitate!

1 Month Old Baby’s Smell Ability

• When the baby is born, his sense of smell is well developed and can quickly distinguish the smell of his milk.
• Towards the end of this month, you may find that you like sugary scents like vanilla and banana, but turn your nose up at alcoholic and vinegary scents.

1 Month Old Baby’s Taste Ability

• You may be surprised at this information, but your newborn baby has more taste buds than you! That’s why your baby may be picky about different flavors. This includes the temperature of breast milk or formula.

1 Month Baby’s Touch Ability

• Your baby’s ability to touch is also well developed.
• She likes smooth surfaces and does not like different materials touching her skin at the same time.
• It also senses pain and may react when touched.

1 Month Old Baby’s Mental Development

• Your baby’s brain produces 250,000 new brain cells per minute since pregnancy. When it comes to the world, it has produced almost all of the cells it will use throughout its life.
• But that’s just the beginning, as the baby grows and opens into the new world, brain cells will begin to form connections called synapses, and networks that form the basis of many skills.
• You might think it’s too early to contribute to brain development right now. But it’s not too early to lay a foundation, especially on topics such as language development! If you talk to him often, or even read aloud, you will have taken very useful steps for language development. 
• No matter how much your baby can’t talk, they have some ways to communicate with you. One of them is crying! Why does a 1-month-old baby cry unless there is an underlying health problem? Let’s see why:
• It’s hungry.
• He got his bottom wet.
• Her outfit is unsettling.
• It’s hot or cold.
• He wants attention.
• He’s bored.
• He has sleep.

As you can see, the crying caused by all these reasons is your baby’s effort to communicate with you!

Apart from these, there will be some facial expressions that your baby will use to communicate and show his reaction. For example, he may make eye contact with you and carefully examine your face. If there is a light or sound around him that disturbs him, he may show that he is uncomfortable by turning his face away and closing his eyes. He may not yet react by making a sound, but he can interpret your approach towards him from your facial expression or the way you hold him in his lap.

Social Development of 1 Month Old Baby

• Your baby’s only social activity this month will be getting to know you and bonding. That’s why every time you feed him, hug him or run to him when he cries, there is a meaning! These create a bond of love and trust between the two of you.

1 Month Old Baby Toys

• Don’t say it’s too early! Even this month, there are some toys you can buy for your baby’s development. Now he can follow some objects for a while and moving things attract his attention.
• Then a mobile that you can attach to your bassinet will work. For now, you can choose felt or amigurumi mobiles.

What Does a 1 Month Old Baby Do?

If we summarize the various answers given to the question of what the baby can do at the end of 1 month ;

• It can raise its head briefly when laid on a flat surface.
• It can focus on the face between 15-30 cm.
• Apart from crying, it can also make some other sounds.
• He may start laughing spontaneously.
• He tries to suck his finger.
• He can reciprocate your smile.
• He can raise his head 90 degrees when on his stomach.
• He may try to turn to the side while on his back.

By the way, you should know that your baby will be sleeping for a long time in the first month. We can examine the baby’s daily routine in 6 stages. The baby will be fully awake in 2 of these stages and will be able to give the reactions we mentioned above.

Phase	Describing	What does your baby do?
Stage 1	deep sleep	It lies silently without moving.
Stage 2	light sleep	Moves while sleeping, startled by noise.
Stage 3	drowsy state	His eyes begin to close.
Stage 4	silent and awake	His eyes are open, his face is alive, his body is motionless.
Stage 5	Active and alert	His face and body are active, he moves, he makes sounds, he laughs.
Stage 6	Cry	Nets, the body moves in an imprecise way.

1 Month Baby Nutrition and Breastfeeding Frequency

Breast milk is the most ideal food for the baby’s nutrition in the first month. You do not need to give extra water as there are water and minerals required in breast milk. If possible, you should feed your baby with breast milk. In cases where it is not possible, you can take additional food supplements recommended by your doctor.

• First of all, you should know that there is no such thing as breastfeeding every 2-3 hours for newborn babies. You should base your baby’s feeding plan on breastfeeding whenever he wants to. In this sense, you should not forget that the determinant of the breastfeeding frequency of a 1-month-old baby is his appetite.
• Since your baby’s appetite is increasing, you should not think that your milk is not enough. On the contrary, as your baby suckles, your milk production will increase. If you have questions about breastfeeding, if you want to know which foods will contribute positively to milk production and which ones are gas-producing, you can get help from a dietitian. For this; You can contact a nutritionist and dietitians during breastfeeding .
• If she still cries after breastfeeding her baby, it doesn’t mean she isn’t always full. Sometimes she may also be crying because of gas or stool. To avoid this, you should change your baby’s diaper before you start daytime breastfeeding. In a breast change, you should give your baby a break to pass gas.
• If the baby continues to cry and starts sucking his thumb even after he burps, this does not mean that he is not always full. Because sucking is a primitive behavior in babies. Whether he’s hungry or not, he’ll want to suckle. Therefore, if your milk is sufficient, one breast is sufficient for one feeding.
• Night feeding is also important for a 1-month-old baby. You have to feed your baby every time he wakes up and help him get a good sleep again.
• If your milk is sufficient, you do not need to supplement your baby with formula in this process. But if your milk is not coming and all your efforts have not worked, you can supplement with formula with the recommendation of your doctor. “How many scoops of food does a 1-month-old baby eat?” The person who will answer the question will be your doctor.

Things to Consider While Breastfeeding

• You should start breastfeeding in a comfortable position in an uncrowded room, giving your full attention to your baby. Before you start breastfeeding, you should adjust your position so that you get support on your back and under the arm you hold your baby. 
• While breastfeeding your baby, you should make sure that not only the nipple, but also the dark area around it, called the areola, is inside your baby’s mouth. If you do not pay attention to this, cracks may occur on the nipple and it will hurt in the next breastfeeding sessions. 
• You can keep a glass of water or juice with you while breastfeeding.
• Changing diapers before you start breastfeeding will allow your baby to have a calmer and more enjoyable feeding time. However, you should not do such an intervention unless necessary, as it will interrupt your sleep at night.
• Since yours is the sound your baby always hears while in the womb, you can talk to him in a soft tone or try shaking him. So you will see that your baby will calm down.
• Don’t just feed your baby! Enjoy this moment, which is the most special communication between mother and baby, and do not hesitate to show her your love. Hug, let him hold your finger, sing or just make eye contact.
• You should use water for breast cleaning.
• Babies may fall asleep during feeding. Therefore, if a 1-month-old baby is sleeping at the breast, you should not find it strange. When you want to prevent this situation, you can continue active breastfeeding by stimulating your baby’s feet and cheeks during breastfeeding.

How do you know if your baby is malnourished?

• If your baby’s weight gain has stopped or is less,
• Takes out less than 5 dirty diapers in a day,
• If his poop is too hard,
• If he does not wake up during the night,
• If you don’t feel the fullness of milk in your breasts, it may be insufficient for your baby. 

1 Month Baby’s Sleep Pattern

How Many Hours Do Babies Sleep?

Your 1-month-old baby’s sleep pattern will surprise you. The baby has just been born and needs sleep to grow. Therefore, do not be surprised that he spends 15 to 20 hours asleep in the first months, even be happy! In fact, this period can be up to 22 hours in some babies. So, is it normal for a 1-month-old baby to sleep a lot? and accept that your baby will be asleep except when you feed him.

1 Month Baby’s Night Sleep

There is no such thing as the hours when your baby is awake will be daylight! A 1-month-old baby’s night sleep may be fragmented, while daytime sleep may be more regular. Before you start complaining right away, remember that he lived in a lightless environment for exactly 40 weeks!

In fact, turn this into an opportunity and start giving your first training day and night awareness. The simplest way to understand this difference is to breastfeed. During the day you can talk, sing or play games with her while she nurses. At night, you should just feed, be quiet, almost as if offended, or even whisper. The environment should be dark and you should not even change the diaper unless necessary.

1 Month Baby Laying Positions

We can guess that the thing you are most curious about in the sleeping arrangement is the reclining position. You can try them all in supine, prone or side lying positions. But with caution! While it was said that he should sleep on his stomach in the old times, it is now recommended to lie on his back or side instead of this position against the danger of vomiting.

In addition, lying face down can cause SIDS, or sudden infant death. Although the reason for this situation is not clear, there are usually factors that prevent the baby from breathing. Lying face down is one of them!

When you lie on your back, you should turn your baby’s head to the right or left against the risk of vomiting. In fact, you should constantly change the head position to prevent this, as the shape of your baby’s skull may become flat. When laying on its side, you should support your baby’s back with a blanket or a small pillow that will not disturb him.

What You Need to Know for Your Baby to Sleep Better

Sleeping more comfortably will also be beneficial for your 1-month-old baby’s sleep pattern .

• In the first months, you can put your baby in a basket crib or mother’s side crib instead of his own bed. Thus, although it is not as narrow as in the mother’s womb, it will prevent foreignness. 
• Swaddling can be beneficial as it will make your baby feel in the womb. We suggest you take a look: You’ll Master it Soon: How to Swaddle a Baby?
• You should not use a quilt or blanket in this process. Sleeping with a sleeping bag can help both to keep the warmth and to have a peaceful sleep.
• Very hot or very cold environments can prevent the baby from sleeping. You have to adjust the heat balance well.
• Even if it is an old custom and even a habit, shaking your baby can help him fall asleep easily. This is because in her womb she sleeps even when the mother is on the go. At this point, the little rocking cradles will help you a lot.
• If you think that your baby is living in a noise like a blow dryer or a broom in the womb, you can get help from these sounds to put him to sleep. These are called white noise.
• Giving your baby a warm bath before going to sleep at night and massaging while applying oil after the bath will relax him. Playing small games in her bed also prepares her for a happy sleep transition.
• Breastfeeding is also the best way to prepare for sleep.

Should You Sleep The Baby In Their Room Or In The Parents’ Room?

This is one of the issues you will be most indecisive about! There is no right answer to this question, and everyone will have a voice. It depends on which one you are comfortable with.

• If the baby’s room is close to your bedroom and you are sure that you will not be one of the mothers who check for breathing at night, you can put your baby to sleep in his own room and get used to the rule of a separate room from infancy. It even ensures that all three of you have a comfortable sleep. Of course, you also have to make sure you can hear the baby monitor . The hard part of this for you is that you will have to shuttle between the nursery and your room several times a night to breastfeed your baby.
• If you want to be able to follow your breathing, feed the baby more easily and have it in front of you, there is no harm in putting him in your own room. Not in your own bed of course, just in your room! For this reason, we do not recommend that you carry the baby bed that you bought in the baby room to your room. This both disorganizes and narrows its scope. Now you can find a solution to this problem with the little cribs that have entered our lives.
• You have to be very careful when choosing a tiny crib. You should look for cribs that you can sleep in for more than 3 months. Remember, the baby will grow at full speed and will be restless if his sleep is constantly interrupted in a crib where he is not comfortable. We recommend cribs that are large enough for your baby to sleep in for at least 6 months. You can even examine the products that you can easily breastfeed and sleep your baby comfortably, and that you can also install on your bed.

Bowel Movements of 1 Month Old Baby

Why Does 1 Month Old Baby Have Green Poop?

When he saw the little kitten’s stool in the first days, “Why does a 1-month-old baby poop green?” you might think. This is completely normal, babies’ poop is sticky, green-black in color due to the substances they swallowed in the womb. About a week after birth, its color usually turns light yellow.

Does 1 Month Old Baby Poop Every Day?

When your baby is born, he will poop 4-5 times a day. This means your baby is full. In some cases, this figure may even be 10-12 per day. “I wonder if my baby has diarrhea?” You shouldn’t worry. Especially breastfed babies poop very often and watery because they suckle too much. If you are feeding your baby formula, the color of the poop may be paler and in less quantity.

As your baby grows from day to day, the number of poops will decrease and he will start to poop in amounts depending on what you eat and digestion rate.

Why Does 1 Month Old Baby Have Diarrhea?

1 month old baby;

• viral diseases,
• Some bacteria and parasites in the gut,
• Diarrhea may occur due to reasons such as drug use due to another disease.

How Do I Identify Diarrhea in the First Days?

You may be thinking that it can be difficult to distinguish diarrhea, especially in breastfed babies. Diarrhea can be difficult to detect because breastfed babies’ poop can be very watery. In order to make this distinction, we can list the diarrhea symptoms of a 1-month-old baby as follows:

• The number of poops is higher than usual,
• bad smell,
• Bloody or inflamed
• The baby is hot.

How Is Diarrhea Treated?

When diarrhea occurs, a lot of fluid is lost in the body. If you are giving your baby breast milk or formula, you should continue to feed him with liquids in the same way. But when vomiting and fever show symptoms, “What should be done if a 1-month-old baby has diarrhea?” For the answer to the question, you should definitely take it to the doctor, we do not recommend you to do a treatment on your own.

What Causes Constipation in Newborn Babies?

Breastfed babies are less constipated than formula fed babies. In this aspect, “Why can’t a 1-month-old baby poop?” We can look for the answer to the question in the nutrition of the baby. The reason why formula-fed babies are constipated more often is that breast milk is more suitable for the baby’s intestines and digestion.

If your baby

• Unable to poop for 3-4 days
• Fewer and infrequent stools
• If you have pain and bleeding in your bottom while pooping, you may be constipated. In such cases, it is normal not to poop for up to 7 days in breastfed babies.

Colic in Newborns

Towards the end of the first month, if you see that your baby cries for a very long time, does not calm down easily and pulls his legs in while crying, you may think that he has a colic problem.

Colic is a disorder in which very severe gas pains and crying spells are seen. Generally, when the gas problem is alleviated, the severity of the seizures decreases. 3.-4. It disappears on its own within a month.

Newborn Screening Tests

In order for her baby not to face serious health problems in the future, she needs to pass some tests in the first month. We have listed the tests that will be given to you under the control of a 1-month-old baby doctor.

• Phenylketonuria test,
• Hypothyroid screening,
• Galactosemia screening,
• cystic fibrosis screening,
• newborn eye scan,
• newborn hearing screening,
• Hip dislocation ultrasound.