One Month Old

Note: All weights and lengths are approximate; each baby is unique. These figures are just general ranges.

Communication and social development

At one month, a baby can focus her eyes on her parents or caregivers (if they’re not too far away) and recognizes – and is comforted by – their voices.

Infants imitate facial expressions: If someone sticks their tongue out, they do the same; if someone opens his eyes and mouth wide, they do too. In addition to crying, a baby will now make gentle sounds, for example an expression of pleasure.

Senses and motor skills
Without support, baby’s head still wobbles, but if she’s lying on her stomach, she can lift her chin for several seconds. The grasp reflex becomes stronger, but her hands are still mostly balled up in fists.

At this age, babies recognize their parents primarily by their smell, so it’s a good idea to wear as little perfume or aftershave as possible.

One-month-olds like listening to music; a familiar melody in a music box or played softly on your stereo can be a source of great comfort.

Interests and activities
An infant is curious and, when awake, very interested in her surroundings, especially in people and moving objects; she’ll likely enjoy having a mobile set up over her crib. She probably won’t sleep very long at a stretch, but rather in shorter intervals. The lower her birth weight, the more frequently she’ll need to be fed. It’s not uncommon that she’ll need to be fed every two to three hours – including at night – for the next couple of months.

All sorts of rhythmic activities can help with baby’s development and are also fun for her and you. Try singing and rocking her softly in time to the music. You can also play with her fingers and toes to start gently loosening the grasp reflex.

Again, these are just guidelines; as with most milestones, they can naturally occur over a wide range of months without any cause for concern.