Your Baby at 1 Month

Gross Motor and Large Muscle Development
On her back, she actively moves her arms and kicks her legs, extending out further. Movements are still reflexive and not purposeful. Her head is still turned to either side.  On her stomach, she is beginning to do more active lifting and turning of her head. She may get her hand to her mouth to suck on. Her arms are beginning to move away from her body.  She continues to need support of her head, and may begin to lift her head momentarily when she is held upright against your shoulder.

Fine Motor and Small Muscle Development
Her hands are beginning to open up more. She likes to grasp your fingers; this is still a reflexive grasp.

Cognitive, Social and Visual Development
She stares at objects and makes eye contact. She prefers to look at patterns over color.  She is increasingly alert and may stay awake one to two hours out of every eight.  She may begin to smile at a face or at the sound of a voice.  She can distinguish similar sounds like "ba" and "pa."  Her daily patterns of sleeping, crying and eating are still disorganized.  She may cry for prolonged periods, especially in the evening. This will improve over the next two to three months.

Activities for You and Your Baby
Enjoy special times each day with her when she is alert and calm. Small, frequent periods of social interaction are nice, and can happen during daily activities such as diaper changing, dressing, bathing and feeding. Talk to her, smile at her.

Experiment with different positions when you hold her, always making sure she feels secure.  Hold her cradled on your chest on her tummy.  Hold her up on your shoulder with support at her head so she can look around.  Hold her sitting, leaning against your chest.

Ideas for toys at this time include mobiles, plastic mirrors, small light-weight rattles and wrist rattles.