By Alison Heyerdahl

You’ve made it through four weeks of parenting a newborn!  Most parents don’t realize how difficult having a baby can be, and the first month of parenting can be a shock to the system.  The sleepless nights, trying to get used to the two-hourly feeding sessions, and worrying about the color of your baby’s poop can all be overwhelming, to say the least. 

Disclaimer: At Leva, we use ‘he’ or ‘she’ interchangeably to denote when we are referring to a baby.  This is to ensure a flow in the writing and to reduce the need to write ‘he or she’ every time we refer to the baby.  The same applies to ‘his’ or ‘her’. 

We also know there are many different types of families, and we recognize that many people parent alone. Some children are parented by same-sex parents, and/or those who live within an extended family.  Please read our articles, adapting them as necessary to your particular situation, without taking offense at any specificities that do not apply. 

How has my baby changed?

You may be surprised at how much your baby has grown over the last four weeks.  In the beginning, it may seem that your baby does nothing but eat, sleep, cry and fill her diapers.  By the end of the first month, she is far more alert and responsive.  See below for some interesting one-month-old stats:

• On average, four-week-old babies have grown 1 -1.5 inches in length.

• They have gained two pounds in weight since birth.

Keep in mind that these are averages.  Some babies grow faster and others may grow slower (especially if they were born prematurely).

What are the one-month-old milestones?

As mentioned previously, developmental milestones are merely a guide for the order in which development is expected to occur.  Your baby may develop slightly quicker or slower than other babies, especially if they were born prematurely. 

Body development:

• Your baby grows at the rate of knots in the first month. As mentioned previously, he will have gained one to two pounds in weight. At your check-up, your healthcare provider will weigh your baby, measure his weight, and the circumference around his head. These will be plotted on baby growth charts.

• Her fontanelle won’t have fused yet, and you may notice pulsating on the top of her head. This is normal, and it will likely only close by the end of the second month.

• At the end of the first month, you will notice that your baby has more control over her body. She makes jerky movements but is able to bring her hands to her mouth.

Cognitive development:

• By the end of the first month, your baby is starting to get used to all the new sights, sounds, and smells around her.

• You may notice that she starts to track objects with her eyes. Babies can only focus 8 – 10 inches in front of their faces, but their eyes may still wander and occasionally cross. This is completely normal in the first month. As their eye muscles will develop, they are able to follow objects more steadily and intentionally.

• In the first month, babies prefer black-and-white or high-contrast patterns.

• By the end of the first month, a baby’s hearing is fully mature. She will recognize some sounds and intentionally turn towards familiar voices.

Physical development:

• She will make jerky, quivering arm thrusts towards familiar objects and faces.

• She may move her head from side to side while lying on her tummy.

• Her neck muscles are still undeveloped, and as such her head will flop backward if it is unsupported, so be sure to hold her head.

• Your baby will have strong reflex movements. The startle reflex, or Moro reflex, is particularly noticeable in the first month.

Language/Communication:

• At the one-month mark, your baby will start communicating more clearly. You may start to tell the difference between her hungry cries, tired cries, and irritated cries.

• Your baby may also turn towards familiar sounds, such as your voice.

Sleep:

• At this age, your baby will sleep around 14 – 17 hours a day and will require around five naps.

• Although your baby is waking up every two to three hours to feed, he may sleep for longer stretches at night from about six weeks of age.

• Offer your baby a pacifier for sleep times. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a pacifier reduces the incidence of SIDS.

Feeding:

• At one-month-old, a breastfed baby feeds around eight times a day (or every 2 – 3 hours). Bottle-fed babies may feed every 3 – 4 hours.

• Your baby may go through periods of increased hunger and fussiness. Hunger is often a sign that your baby is going through a growth spurt. You may find that your baby wants to eat more often during certain times of the day, this is known as cluster feeding. During a growth spurt, formula-fed babies may want to eat more often or will drink more formula than usual during feedings.

• Your baby will nurse for at least 10 minutes, or drink up to 4 to 5 ounces (118 – 148 ml) per feed.

When should I be concerned?

You may want to consult with your doctor if you notice that your baby:

• Sucks poorly or feeds slowly.

• Doesn’t focus when an object is moved side to side right in front of her face.

• Doesn’t move much, and her arms or legs seem stiff.

• Has excessively floppy limbs.

• Doesn’t respond to loud noises.

• Doesn’t blink when shown a bright light.

For information on your baby’s development next month, click here.