Your 1 Month Old Baby’s Development And Milestones

Hey, Mama, guess what? You’re doing it! You’re starting to figure out what to do with a newborn baby and slowly but surely getting to the one-month mark. You managed to survive those first few sleepless weeks with the tiny, sometimes-screaming, always-pooping human you’re not quite used to yet.

Now that you’ve had a little more time to adjust (and hopefully, if you’re lucky, squeeze a few hours of sleep in there somewhere), you’re probably curious about what’s to come. Here’s what you need to know about the typical development and milestones for a 1-month-old baby.

Your 1 Month Old Baby’s Development & Growth Milestones

How much should a 1 month old weigh?

You’ll probably worry about your baby’s weight in the first month more than you care to admit, even if your pediatrician tells you everything is on track. It’s understandable, though, since most babies lose some weight (5 to 10 percent) in the first five to seven days of life — and that can be unnerving to hear at baby’s first follow-up.

The good news is baby should have regained that weight by now as long as they weren’t premature or have health issues. The weight of the average one-month-old baby is 9.2 pounds for girls and 9.9 pounds for boys, according to the World Health Organization. If your baby falls outside of this range, it doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem. Babies come in all shapes and sizes! In general, you just want baby to be gaining weight at a healthy rate.

How much do you feed a 1 month old baby?

This brings us to our next question: How much do you feed a one-month-old baby? If they’re supposed to be gaining weight, you’re clearly supposed to be supplying the grub, right? If you’re breastfeeding, it’s difficult to put a number on this — as any breastfeeding mama will tell you, sometimes you get a kid who tends to camp out on the boob. And since the milk is coming straight from the tap, so to speak, you can’t exactly measure it. Typically, you’ll know baby has had enough when they either pull their face away or, classic newborn move, pass out.

If you’re formula feeding, a one-month-old baby will usually take three to four ounces per feeding every three to four hours (for breastfeeding mamas, the frequency of feedings is probably a little closer together — say, two to three hours apart).

How much should a 1 month old be sleeping?

On the one hand, you may have noticed newborns sleep a lot. On the other, you’re probably lamenting the fact that they sleep a lot in short bursts — and those short segments tend to cramp your REM cycle at night. This is especially true if your one-month-old has developed “day/night confusion,” which is exactly what it sounds like.

Per Stanford Children’s Health, though, a one-month-old baby should be getting around 15.5 hours of sleep, which works out to seven hours during the day and eight to nine at night. Your baby might sleep 19 or 20 hours or, possibly, less than 14. But as a rule of thumb, newborns need 14 to 17 hours.

Can a 1 month old do tummy time?

You know tummy time is important for your baby. It helps prevent them from getting a flat spot on their head — known as positional plagiocephaly — from lying on their back so much. It also helps baby strengthen their head, neck and upper body strength. But, with the blur of new baby chaos, you may be a bit vague on when tummy time should start. Or if your one-month-old can even do tummy time.

Well, you’ve got the green light! Tummy time can start soon after birth, beginning in one to two increments a day. Over time, you can build up to 20- to 30- minute spells. At first, you can lay baby across your lap on their tummy. As they grow, you can spread a blanket (or rug) in a clear area and let baby lay there. Just make sure both you and baby are awake and that you remain present during baby’s tummy time for their safety.

Your 1 Month Old Baby’s Physical, Social, And Cognitive Milestones

How much can a 1 month old baby see and smell?

The world gets more interesting by the day for your baby. Their eyes are starting to work together, although not always in a coordinated fashion at this point. So, if babies eyes go cross or seem to wander, don’t dial the pediatric optometrist just yet — unless baby’s eye appears to turn in or out constantly, going cross occasionally is normal. And it doesn’t impede them too much, as they can now see and focus on objects around eight to 12 inches away. While they like looking at black-and-white patterns as well as contrasting colors, you’re probably their favorite thing to take in with their cute little eyeballs.

Like baby’s sense of sight, smell continues to develop. She probably dislikes anything that smells bitter or acidic but enjoys things that smell sweet. Same, baby. Same.

Should a 1 month old baby be rolling over?

Hey, anything’s possible. Your womb might have been like the Palace of Solitude, molding and shaping a little Superman (or Supergirl). However, while some newborns will roll onto one side during sleep in their early days post-birth, most babies typically don’t roll over until they’re a bit older. Keep doing that tummy time, though! It’ll only help baby when they do decide they’re ready to rock and roll.

Does a 1 month old hold its head up on its own?

When baby is first born, you have to be vigilant about supporting their head, thanks to noodle neck. You know the deal — if your little one’s head isn’t braced, it tends to sort of flop over. Happily, baby starts to gain neck and head strength in those first few weeks and, by one-month-old, they can likely lift their head briefly. Some may even be able to lift their head 45 degrees during tummy time.

If your baby hasn’t quite reached this milestone yet, again, no need to panic. Babies develop at different rates. If you’re really concerned, give your pediatrician a call.

How often should a 1 month old poop?

If you ever doubted you’d be able to use every box of diapers you got during your baby shower, you’re probably doubting it a lot less now. For starters, your little one’s tiny bladder may mean they burn through four to six wet diapers a day. Poopy diapers aren’t as easy to predict. Most babies have at least one bowel movement a day. But part of being a new parent is experiencing the occasional poopocalypse, too — this is the explosion that caps off a baby’s no-pooping streak. You aren’t living that new parent life until you’ve blown through half a bag of wet wipes trying to wipe poop off your babies back, legs, arms, everywhere.

Your 1 Month Old Baby’s Health

What happens at a 1 month old checkup?

Your reticence to visit another doctor’s office so soon after giving birth — and, hello, those weekly prenatal trips — is understandable. But taking baby in for regular medical checkups is the key to making sure your little one is right where they need to be with their health and development.

So, what will happen at your child’s one-month well-baby visit? Baby’s pediatrician will do a physical exam to test their newborn reflexes, check their tongue movements and inspect the umbilical site (by now, the stump is probably gone and the spot should be healing into the cute little belly button you’re going to obsess over for years to come). The circumcision site may also be examined on boys. The doctor will also want to know about and possibly test some of baby’s newfound skills, such as briefly lifting the head and bringing their hands up to their face. And, finally, brace yourself, Mama… because there will be shots.

RELATED: Considering Circumcision? What To Know About Circumcision Care

What vaccinations does a 1 month old get?

At 1 to 2 months, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that baby should be immunized against hepatitis B. Since your baby likely got the first dose of the HepB immunization shortly after birth, this may be the second dose.

How do I know if my 1 month old is healthy?

A parent’s intuition is strong, so follow your gut if you feel like something is amiss. But since babies are new and their bodies are figuring out the whole life-outside-of-the-womb thing, you should be aware of common health concerns (that are usually harmless). These include constipation, congestion, gas, cradle cap, spitting up and baby acne.

If your baby has a change in bowel movement, is vomiting forcefully, or if spitting up is accompanied by excessive crying, give your health care provider a call to rule out underlying issues.

Written by Julie Sprankles.

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