The first month of a child”s life

A child’s first month of life is an amazing period that is full of firsts for both the parents and the infant. Tiny victories are celebrated every day, ranging from the first drowsy smile to learning how to function in the outside world. It’s a time of learning, growing, and connecting.

These first few weeks can be a mixture of excitement and tiredness for parents. Newborns have distinct rhythms and needs that can be quite demanding at times. However, every obstacle presents a chance to develop a stronger bond and closer relationship with your child.

Recognizing your baby’s cues and learning how to satisfy their needs are crucial during this period. Although there is no guidebook for being a perfect parent, the first month lays the groundwork for a loving and caring relationship that will only get better with time.

Physiological changes

See an image of a newborn in another article. The baby’s body goes through significant changes in the first few weeks of life:

• Postpartum edema goes away.
• The bones of the skull become stronger.
• Certain features appear on the face.
• Vision changes. Improves eye movement coordination and focus.
• The digestive tract adapts to the new diet and is populated with beneficial microflora.
• Hematopoiesis and blood circulation are rebuilt. Red blood cells carrying fetal hemoglobin are destroyed, and new red blood cells appear in their place.

During the first month of life, a baby will urinate at least six times each day. At the same time, the baby’s pee is practically transparent. At one month old, a baby can empty their intestines up to twelve times a day, usually right after eating. His stool is soft and yellow.

Height and weight

A newborn baby’s height and weight are determined by a number of factors, including their health and heredity. Parents and doctors measure the baby’s length and weigh him once a month to make sure everything is alright.

The baby’s head circumference and chest circumference are measured in addition to the child’s entire weight and length.

The following are signs of newborn babies:

Boys

Girls

Limits of typical growth

Limitations of typical weight

Average diameter of the head

Limitations of the average head circumference

Typical circumference of the chest

Chest girth normative boundaries

The calculator can be used to determine your child’s norms. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended weight and height ranges are the foundation for this calculator.

How much weight does a baby gain in the first month?

An infant gains 600 grams of weight on average in the first month. It should be noted that a baby in a maternity hospital typically loses up to 10% of his birth weight; however, even prior to being released, the baby starts gaining weight again, and only weight gain is then deemed normal. In the first month of life, a baby grows three centimeters taller.

The following are the signs for newborns at one month old:

Boys

Girls

Limits of typical growth

Limitations of typical weight

Average diameter of the head

Limitations of the average head circumference

Typical circumference of the chest

Normal chest circumference bounds

Reflexes

A newborn baby’s reflexes are always examined to make sure they are present in a healthy way. While many of these reflexes eventually go away, a newborn’s presence of them is a crucial indicator of their health.

A newborn baby’s reflexes include the following:

1. Sucking. This is the main reflex that provides nutrition to the baby.
2. Grasping. When you touch the baby"s palm with your finger or a toy, you will see how the baby reflexively grabs it.
3. Searching. When you stroke or touch the cheek, the baby turns its head.
4. Swimming. When you put the baby on its tummy, you will see that the baby makes movements similar to swimming.
5. Babinsky. If you run your finger along the baby"s foot (along its outer edge), the foot turns, and the toes on it spread.
6. Walking. Supporting the baby"s body so that its feet touch a solid surface, you will notice how the baby begins to make movements similar to walking.
7. Mora. When a sudden loud sound occurs, the baby will bring its legs and arms together and spread.
8. Babkina. Press the baby"s palm, and you will see how the baby opens its mouth and turns head.

Mode

Because of this, a newborn lacks a routine; they sleep for a few hours, wake up for thirty to sixty minutes, eat, and then go back to sleep. A unique daily schedule for every baby is developed only in the second month of life, and during this time the newborn is unaware of day or night.

Watch "Baby Boom" on TV to learn what to do in the first few weeks after your baby is born.

Sleep

A newborn slumbers for the majority of the day, and their sleep is divided into three stages:

1. Deep sleep, during which the baby breathes calmly and deeply, and the baby"s eyes are closed.
2. Shallow sleep, during which the baby"s breathing is irregular, and the legs and arms can twitch, as can the eyeballs covered with eyelids.
3. Drowsiness, which often occurs during feedings or during the period of falling asleep. The baby"s eyes are half-closed in this phase.

The infant can either lie quietly or cry to express how uncomfortable they are during this time.

A newborn’s first month of life is a period of profound adjustment and change for both the parent and the child. Babies start to adjust to life outside the womb during this time. They also start to recognize faces and voices, develop important reflexes, and strengthen their early sense of security. It’s a time when parents learn how to tend to their infant’s basic needs, such as feeding and sleeping, as well as recognizing their cues and setting up a nurturing environment. The groundwork for future months of growth and bonding is laid during this first month.

Nutrition

Colostrum is the food that is thought to be best for a newborn. This is the term used to describe the milk that is discharged from a mother’s breast as soon as the baby is born and is incredibly rich in nutrients. It is no wonder that breast milk is dubbed the best food for a newborn; its special composition is unmatched by even the best formula producers.

It is advised to nurse a newborn whenever they feel hungry, taking them to the breast when they are fussy. There will be frequent feedings at first, but as the baby gets bigger, he will figure out his own feeding schedule and learn to take pauses in between meals.

When nursing is not an option, it’s crucial to select the baby’s appropriate formula. To ensure that the food does not damage the newborn’s developing digestive system, you should do this after consulting a pediatrician and taking into consideration all the subtleties.

It’s crucial to watch out that the infant grasps the areola and nipple correctly when nursing. The baby will still swallow some air, though, so you’ll need to assist them in burping after feeding.

Development

An infant is limited in what they can do at birth. When the infant is awake, its arms and legs move erratically, and it cries in response to anything that bothers it, whether it’s a wet diaper or a sense of hunger. A child freezes, blinks a lot, and sometimes starts crying when they hear something sharp.

By the time the baby’s first month of life ends, it can:

• Smile in response to an adult"s speech.
• Raise its head when lying on its stomach, holding it for up to five seconds.
• Follow stationary objects and the mother"s face, as well as moving large brightly colored objects.
• Coo. The sounds made by a baby are similar to "hee", "ha", "gu", so this "conversation" of the baby is also called cooing.

Watch the video by Larisa Sviridova to learn more about the baby’s first month of life.

What a child needs?

• First of all, a baby needs tactile contact with the mother after birth, so the baby needs to be hugged, held, stroked more often.
• Smile at your baby more often, then your little one will sooner please you with a conscious smile.
• To help your baby develop better, talk to your baby during periods of wakefulness and often change the baby"s position – lay him on his tummy, turn him on his side, carry him vertically, supporting his head.
• For better hearing development, you can not only talk to your baby with different intonations and timbre, but also play classical music for your baby. Let your baby listen to it for about ten minutes every day.
• Proper care of your baby is also important, which includes daily hygiene (washing, washing, cleaning the eyes, nose, ears, combing, cutting nails), bathing, walking, massage, air baths.

Milestone	Description
Feeding	The baby feeds frequently, about every 2-3 hours, either breast milk or formula.
Sleep	Newborns sleep a lot, usually 16-18 hours a day, in short naps.
Crying	Crying is the baby’s way of communicating needs like hunger, discomfort, or tiredness.
Reflexes	Babies have natural reflexes like grasping, sucking, and rooting for the breast.
Bonding	The baby starts recognizing voices and smells, especially of parents, helping build early bonds.

A child’s first month of life is full of firsts for both the parents and the infant. The baby is growing and developing quickly during this time as they get used to life outside the womb. Even though there are moments when it feels overwhelming, this is a time of amazing bonding and discovery.

In these initial weeks, parents get to know their baby’s needs and start creating a schedule. Since every child is different and may achieve milestones at their own pace, patience and flexibility are essential.

The initial month can be difficult, but it also establishes a solid bond between the family and the child. When parents and their newborns grow together, it can be more rewarding to embrace these moments, even the challenging ones.

Video on the topic

TOP 10 tips for a newborn. Baby"s first month

The first month of a child"s life / What is important for a mother to know in the first month after birth?

FIRST MONTH AFTER BIRTH. What should every woman prepare for mom?

A newborn baby in the first month of life: sleep, care, development, feeding and frequency of bowel movements.