Child development at 1 month

You may be shocked at how much your baby has changed and grown by the time they turn one month old. Although your child is still getting used to life outside the womb at this point, they are developing very quickly. This time is vital because it establishes the groundwork for subsequent development and education.

Babies’ senses and reflexes are rapidly developing during the first month of life. They become more auditory-responsive and might even start paying attention to faces and objects. Along with their increased awareness of their surroundings and increased control over their movements, their physical abilities are also developing.

You can more effectively support your baby’s development and savor these early moments if you know what to anticipate in their first month of life. Let’s talk about developmental milestones to look out for and how to support your baby’s growth during this wonderful time.

Physical development at 1 month

A month-old baby typically gains 600 grams of weight in comparison to birth weight. Throughout the first month of life, the baby grows by an average of three centimeters.

While every baby’s development is unique and these are only average indicators, there are typical bounds that should be observed, and if they are exceeded, the child should see a physician.

The following table lists physical markers of a one-month-old child’s development.

A signpost

Boys between one and two months

Girls between one and two months

Average amount after a month

Circumference of the chest

What the baby can do?

By the time they are one month old, a baby masters the following skills:

• Head holding. A baby, while in a tummy position, can raise its head and hold it for up to 5 seconds.
• Gaze fixation. A child peers not only at stationary objects and the face of an adult, but also at moving objects, if they are large and bright.
• Vision development. A baby can already distinguish red, black, yellow and white colors, as well as cells and lines. In addition, a baby at 1 month already recognizes his mother.
• Reaction to sound. When a baby hears a loud or sharp sound, he flinches or freezes. Sometimes the sound scares the baby so much that it makes the baby cry.
• Cooling. You will hear sounds from a one-month-old baby that are similar to “gu” or “ga”, so this first speech of the baby is also called cooing.

Watch the video below, which features renowned Russian physician and massage therapist Nikolai Nikonov discussing what a baby should be able to accomplish at one month old.

Can a baby smile?

One of the most delightful abilities a child learns in the first month of life is how to smile on purpose. A mother will see a charming smile in return the more often she smiles at her child. Along with smiling, the infant will also exhibit other animated behaviors, such as moving his arms and legs and cooing.

Take note that although a newborn’s smiles can be seen from the earliest moments of life, these smiles are unintentional. The baby’s smiles will initially be noticed by the mother while he is sleeping, then later on during bath time or after feedings. Every one of these smiles is a physiological variation. But as the baby gets closer to one month old, its smile gains social media attention. It turns into a reaction when you speak to your mother or another close relative.

A baby’s development at one month old is mostly focused on learning basic reflexes and firsthand sensory experiences. At this age, babies begin to respond to familiar voices, show signs of increased alertness, and can track movements with their eyes. This time frame is essential for setting the stage for upcoming developmental milestones, both mental and physical.

Care

The mother should constantly be close to her child and react to their needs right away.

Increase the frequency of holding the infant in your arms. Don’t forget to support the head, converse with the child, and don’t worry that you’ll acclimate the child to your hands and create an egoist. Conversely, research indicates that infants who are picked up by their mothers less frequently cry more and for longer periods of time in an attempt to get the mother’s attention. The baby won’t scream needlessly if he knows that his mother is always close by.

At one month old, a baby needs the following care:

• Hygiene procedures – washing, caring for ears and eyes, washing, cutting nails, combing.
• Bathing.
• Outdoor walks.
• Massage.
• Air baths.

Because one-month-old babies are extremely sensitive to tactile cues, make sure your hands are warm and dry before changing your infant.

How to promote development?

Since a one-month-old baby still has very short wakeful periods, the mother should carefully plan her time so that she can interact with the child, take care of her personal hygiene, give the baby a massage, take a bath, and spend a minute thinking about the baby’s development. During the baby’s sleep, the mother needs to get enough rest because her health is equally as vital.

A one-month-old baby investigates the sounds and stationary and moving objects in his or her environment. What kind of activities are available for development at this age? First and foremost, communication is essential for the infant’s emotional and mental development. Second, encouraging the child’s hearing, touch, and vision receptors. Thirdly, to assist with head support, whereby the infant is commonly placed on his stomach and held vertically.

The following activities will support a month-old baby’s development:

• To help the baby focus his gaze, show the baby a large toy, wait for the baby to look at it, and then slowly move it to the side, ensuring that the baby"s gaze remains focused on the toy.
• Repeat the same actions with a rattle, that makes soft sounds. Do this with the baby 1-2 times a day for up to 2 minutes per session.
• You can also turn on classical music for the baby or recordings of various musical instruments. Let the baby listen to music for up to 10 minutes daily.
• Hang a mobile with large toys in the crib (3-4 pieces) and a pleasant melody. You can also put the baby on a development mat.
• Constantly talk to the baby. And do it so that the baby sees your facial expressions. So you will stimulate the hearing of the child and the development of the baby"s speech. In response to her mother, an affectionate speech, the baby will begin to respond faster to a complex of revival and a conscious smile.

Allow dad to play with the baby as well as mom, as their styles of communication are different and the baby can learn from both of them.

Games at 1 month

Regarding the development of the body:

• Having laid the baby on the back, take the child by the handles, raise them upside down, then lower them down, then cross it on the chest and dilute to the sides. With the legs of the crumbs, you can simulate a bicycle movement. During such gymnastics, sing a pleasant song.
• Putting the baby on the tummy, show him the toy and raise it up, stimulating the baby to raise his head. You can also lay the baby on your stomach and call a baby by name so that the child raises his head and start looking at your face. Such activities will improve the development of his muscles.
• Gently touch your baby during bathing, accompanying this light massage with a quiet song. After bathing the baby, wrap the baby in a towel, hiding your face behind its edge, then peek out from behind the towel and say "peek-a-boo".

For the purpose of developing vision:

• Make a kind of "doll" out of a paper plate. To do this, draw a face and attach a handle to the plate so that it can be held and moved. Show the "doll" to the baby from a distance of 25 cm and wait until the baby begins to follow the plate.
• Bend over the baby so that his gaze is fixed above your face, and then slowly move to the side. The baby will follow you by turning his head.
• Sew an elastic band to a small toy and hang the toy above the baby. Then make the toy on the elastic band "jump" up and down in front of the baby. Soon the child will not only look at the jumping toy, but also try to grab it with his hands.
• Show your baby a bright toy at a distance of 30 cm from his face, then slowly move the object horizontally. When you notice that the baby is looking at the toy, then move it vertically, and finally move the object in a circle.
• During feeding, put a bright scarf or towel on your shoulder. The baby will move his gaze from your face to this bright object.

To cultivate additional senses:

• Read nursery rhymes to your baby to develop the baby"s hearing and sense of rhythm. You can introduce your baby to your favorite rhymes or come up with your own. You can use any song as a basis and change the words to your taste.
• Tie a bell to each of your baby"s booties. When moving his legs, the baby will hear the ringing and listen to it.
• When the baby is lying in the crib, talk to the baby while you move around the room. This will simultaneously stimulate both the baby"s hearing and his vision.
• Gently massage each finger on the baby"s legs and arms. Touch the baby not only with your hands, but also with a piece of cotton wool, a soft brush, a terry, woolen or other fabric glove.
• Dip cotton balls in mild-smelling liquids, such as mint or vanilla eau de toilette. By letting the baby sniff such a ball, you will stimulate the baby"s sense of smell.

Massage benefits a child’s development as well. Check out Nikolai Nikonov’s video below for instructions on how to do it properly.

Water activities

One of the activities that promotes a one-month-old baby’s development is swimming. It can be performed in a bathtub at home or in a swimming pool (under an instructor’s supervision). The baby’s vestibular apparatus will be stimulated through exercises in the water. Invest in an inflatable swimming ring for your baby that supports their neck.

After adding warm water to the bathtub, gently lower the infant into the water in a circle and watch them until they become accustomed to it. After the infant has gone for one or two swims, he or she will start to enjoy these activities, and the mother will be able to just observe and capture the cutest moments for pictures.

Due to their heightened sensitivity to temperature changes in their environment, carefully lower the baby into the water, starting at the heels. Try soaking yourself in the bathtub with the baby if they have a bad reaction to the first bath. After placing the infant on your chest, gently mist the baby’s body with water and display toys.

Show the child that he can use his legs to push off the bath’s walls. After the baby pushes off and swims back a little, turn the floating infant so that his bent legs rest against the side. Turn the infant and carry out the exercise at the other edge of the bath.

Walking along the bottom of the bath is a fun exercise for babies who are one month old or younger when they are swimming. For a short while, hold the infant beneath your armpits and tilt them forward slightly to activate their walking reflex. Then give the infant a few minutes to swim on his back.

Developmental Milestone	Description
Reflexes	At this stage, babies have strong reflexes such as rooting, sucking, and grasping. These help them respond to their environment and feed.
Vision	Newborns can see about 8-12 inches away and are most interested in faces. They may start to focus on objects within their limited range.
Motor Skills	Baby’s movements are mostly reflexive. They may start to lift their head slightly when lying on their stomach.
Hearing	Babies are sensitive to sounds and may startle at loud noises. They can recognize their mother’s voice and may calm down when they hear it.
Sleep Patterns	Newborns sleep a lot, typically 14-17 hours a day. Their sleep is divided into several short periods throughout the day and night.
Social Interaction	Although not fully aware, babies may start to show interest in interactions by looking at faces and responding to voices.

Your baby is starting to discover new aspects of the world at one month old. Their senses are developing quickly, even though they may still be very small. They may begin to respond to voices and focus on faces, exhibiting the first indications of social interaction.

Your child is starting to move with greater purpose. Even though they might still move a lot reflexively, you might notice that they are beginning to move more smoothly and deliberately. Future milestones are built upon these foundational motor skills.

It’s also a good time to set routines. Your baby will feel more safe and supported if you feed, sleep, and cuddle with them consistently. Recall that every baby develops at their own pace, so enjoy seeing your little one grow and change as well as celebrating these early accomplishments.

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Child development at 1 month

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