Four weeks after birth, our child has already changed a lot and made many progress. A look at our baby’s development at 1 month…
A month may seem like a long time, and yet your child has come so far. Just by looking at a newborn photo and then a photo a month later, you can already see the changes…
His progress in gross motor skills
Our baby, still very small, cannot yet hold their head up . Very heavy and still quite large compared to the rest of their body, it needs to be supported to prevent it from bending forward or backward. At one month old, infants exhibit axial hypotonia in the trunk (lack of muscle tone) and wave their arms and legs when excited. At this stage, the baby still possesses the primitive reflexes observed in the maternity ward. If you place the baby on their tummy for a moment, they will lift and turn their head to clear their nose: this is the survival reflex . And if you support them on a flat surface, you can observe the stepping reflex.
The evolution and development of his fine motor skills
Most of the time, our baby keeps their fists clenched . And, until the age of 2 months , they possess reflexive motor skills . For example, if you stimulate the palm of their hand, they will clench their fingers. This is the grasping reflex .
Language and comprehension
From birth, babies cry and scream . These are their only ways of expressing themselves verbally. When content, they also make guttural sounds, but these aren’t coos yet. Very young babies enjoy being talked to. In fact, by one month old, they can hear us perfectly and react to the sound of our voice. So don’t hesitate to talk to them!
What can you do and how can you keep a 1-month-old baby occupied? What games and activities can you do?
Even when he’s still very young, we play with our child . We start gently with very simple games , holding him on our lap, his face close to ours (about 20 or 30 centimeters away), and leaning towards him, talking to him happily. We also don’t hesitate to put him in the fetal position, cuddle him, or massage him. Our child will appreciate these moments of tenderness and play.
He also loves music and singing . If we play a rattle in front of him, he’ll follow it with his eyes. Another tip: hang a mobile above his crib. However, we don’t leave it on all the time, so as not to overstimulate him.
And we mustn’t forget that babies love to be held! We take him for walks around the house so he can discover the world around him.
Socialization: how does a baby behave in the first month?
From birth, a baby’s  gaze  lingers longer on a human face than on an object. At one month old, our baby becomes agitated by the sound of our voice and is also calmer in the presence of familiar faces. They also smile at angels. At this age, these smiles are not yet intentional but express well-being or satisfaction, particularly during feeding or burping . The first real smile appears around six weeks.
Our baby’s health at 1 month: what size and weight?
Our baby has gained about 600 grams and grown 3 centimeters since birth. Their head circumference has increased by 1 to 2 centimeters. Their head is still fragile: the fontanelle is very soft to allow the brain to develop. The color of their eyes is not yet final. It will gradually change in the coming weeks. As for a baby’s skin, it can be dry during the first few weeks of life. You can moisturize it by gently massaging in a cream specifically designed for infants. White skin, small marks around the eyes, or a small bump on the head… at birth, our child may look a little unusual.
For your baby’s first month, schedule an appointment at the local maternal and child health center (PMI), with your pediatrician, or your general practitioner . This appointment allows you to assess their growth and answer any questions you may have. Note that at this stage, digestive issues and reflux are common.
As for you, schedule a check-up with your gynecologist.
Feeding a 4-week-old infant: what to put in their bottle?
Our baby’s appetite is starting to regulate. But he still feeds frequently: nearly six times a day. Milk is his sole source of nutrition . If we have chosen breastfeeding , the baby needs to nurse very frequently. If he is bottle-fed, he drinks first-stage infant formula . In many infants, digestion can be accompanied by crying. To determine the cause, it is important to consult a doctor, as it is not necessarily colic . For
our baby’s health, vitamins were prescribed upon leaving the maternity ward. Vitamin K should be given until he is 3 months old, and vitamin D until he is 18 months old.
What is the sleep pattern of a 1-month-old baby?
Babies sleep approximately 15 to 20 hours a day. Children need time to distinguish between day and night and wake up every two or three hours to eat. This rhythm can be tiring for you. Fortunately, because they sleep so much and their awake periods are short, you can take advantage of this time to rest and take care of yourself.
Young children need a great deal of calm . External stimuli (lights, sounds, etc.) can disturb them and disrupt their rest. It is therefore important to protect and understand our child’s sleep
. Important: place their crib away from radiators and windows. And make sure to put your baby to sleep on their back, without a duvet, pillow, or blanket, in a room at 18-19°C (64-66°F).
