Your baby, 1 months 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 and older

During the second month of life, your baby may be settling into a routine. You have both had time to recover from the birth and are getting to know each other well. You might still feel overwhelmed and stressed at times, and that is normal.

Your baby's movements are becoming smoother and less jerky. Although he can hold his head up briefly, he still needs your support. While on her tummy, your baby can probably hold her head up slightly. Continue to lay her on her belly for tummy time throughout the day. Babies like to look at different patterns, colors and textures as their eyesight is improving. Because your baby may be rolling over in one direction, it is imperative that you do not ever leave your little one unattended. Even if she has not rolled over yet, one day she will surprise you!

You will be rewarded for all of your dedication this month with smiles of appreciation. Your baby is beginning to smile socially and likes when you smile back at him. Your baby likes to see you excited and the more you interact with him, the more fun he will be for you. Praise your baby for learning a new skill and show him he makes you proud! Some babies begin to coo-make the same sounds back to him. Play cooing games with your baby to help him develop language skills.

Babies have a strong desire to suck and sometimes feeding does not meet their need. Encourage your baby to suck on a fist, hand or pacifier to learn to soothe themselves. Many babies suck on their thumbs or hands before they are even born. Often times, babies enjoy sucking on pacifiers. Be careful not to overuse them and never tie them aorund the baby's neck.

While crying is totally normal, some babies will develop colic. Colic occurs when a baby continuously cries and can not be comforted. Continue to comfort your baby the best you can and ask for suggestions from the doctor. Medication may be necessary. Accept help from others and take the time for yourself that you deserve and need. While it can be challenging and tiresome, colic usually settles down around 3-4 months. Babies need caregivers to be patient, gentle and attentive.

Babies hands have unclenched and will remain open most of the time now. Encourage your baby to reach for objects and grasp ahold of them. Let your baby experience different sizes, colors and textures to optimize learning.

Your baby will be getting his first series of shots at this time. It is very important that you have your child immunized against serious diseases. Not only is it important for your child's health, it is critical for the well-being of the community. Giving your baby tylenol before he receives his shots will decrease the pain. Vaccines do have some risks and side effects, but are much less severe than the actual disease.

Your baby may be going a bit longer in between feedings. Most breastfed babies can go about 3 hours in between each feeding and bottlefed babies are feeding closer to every 4 hours. You may have been told that if you add solids or cereal to baby's bottle, they will sleep better. This may be tempting, but it should not be done. Breastmilk or formula should be the only source of nutrition at this time. Babies at this age are still to young to start on solids.

Continue to play with your baby and teach her about the world around her. Set her on your lap facing outwards so that she can see more. Talk to your baby, sing to your baby and tell her all about what you are doing. Babies love to listen and this is how they learn. During playtime, sit her so that she is facing you. Stick your tongue out and see what she does. Babble back and forth. Make sure that you read to your baby. Babies do not necessarily care what you read to them, they just like hearing your voice and seeing the brightly colored pictures.

Developmental Milestones 1 Month Old

Physical

• Your baby can hold her head up for short periods of time.
• Some babies can turn their heads from side to side while laying down.
• Babies will hold gazes for longer periods of time.
• Eyes can track objects
• Grasp-your baby is equipped with a reflex that will allow him to grasp ahold of your finger or another small object

Intellectual

• Your baby is discovering that he has hands and feet. Hold her arms above his head and ask , `How big is baby?` You can also count his toes and play this little piggy.
• Your baby may gurgle, coo, grunt and hum to show her feelings. Coo and gurgle back and talk to her face to face.
• Some babies may squeal and laugh.
• Recognizes parents and will calm down when he hears the parents voices.
• Your baby listens to and enjoys music. Use her awake times to stimulate her sensory development. Sing to her and play music. Vary what your baby hears.
• Your baby will start sleeping for longer periods of time during the night and begin to stay awake more during the day.

Emotional

• Your baby is soothed by sucking. Babies need to suck and a pacifier may work wonders in helping your baby calm herself now.
• Shows a preference for parents vs. strangers
• May smile when they see a parent or familiar face

Age Appropriate Toys:

• Rattles
• Shakers and Chimes
• Music toys
• Shiny toys (foil works, too!)
• Unbreakable mirrors
• Mobiles
• Moving toys

Comments:

Comments 26-50 of about 14635 for month 1
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babybaker82 - Thursday, 18 Mar
Enjoying the conversation today on feeding. Maya has been so clingy to me. I have an infection on my tailbone so it hurts to sit. I have been feeding laying on my side. I ussually nurse her to sleep. At night I just let her sleep snuggled up to my front near my breast. During the day once she has finished suclking I burp her then once she is back so sleep I put her in her bassinet. Play time happens during the morning and doesnt last very long yet. She pretty much only wants to be changed, feed, burp, spit up, then go back to sleep over and over with some fussing in between that is fixed my walking with her on my shoulder. Luckily I have been getting a full 8 hours of sleep per day, but ussually thats between 12a and 12p with three feedings in between.

Gobliness - Thursday, 18 Mar
Karen, I didn't even produce breastmilk so I mine was 0 calorie!! I desperately wanted to breastfeed but if I had tried my poor LO would have starved. If you do decide to go for a formula look for a partially hydrolyzed variety, it means the proteins are already partly digested making it super easy on bubs tummy. I use Nestle Nan HA Gold 1 (Australia) and it seems to be doing her well. She is thriving and putting on weight like a trooper, she was 6 weeks prem so this was really important so I know the formula is good. Don't beat yourself up if you have to go formula, I know how you feel but I just know I have to do whatever will keep her growing...now if only I could fix her sleeping problems!!!

mom2ucc - Thursday, 18 Mar
Karen- Don't feel too bad you did your best and you are still doing your best by supplimenting if the doc feels it is necissary. I have learned (from nursing four babies) that the skim milk come first, then like 2%, last is the hind milk. Hind milk is where all the fat is. If your baby is not willing to, or not able to, or you just dont know to do this, then he/she will not get the fat milk they need. Sometimes this means only nursing on one side. This is just fyi and it might not even apply to you! I do hope it all works out for you soon :)

Gobliness - Thursday, 18 Mar
My LO is 6 weeks old today...and it's her due date!! She is now officially 'born' lol :)

sprout1 - Thursday, 18 Mar
Jane81 - my baby gets them on her face and they go away sometimes in a few hours or in a few days. Her pedi said it's normal. I forgot what she called it, but she said it's common and not harmful at all.

sprout1 - Thursday, 18 Mar
I just wanted to post on here something new I've started to do with Alyssa to get her to sleep that usually works. 1. We have her on somewhat of a routine now. It starts out with a feed, some activity time then a nap and on and on we go every 3 hours or so. When it's time for her nap I make sure the room is not bright and sounds aren't too loud. I swaddle her and hold her up against me so her head is near my neck. After about 5 minutes when she is nice and relaxed I lay her down and she drifts off to sleep on her own. If she's fussy while I hold her then I pat her back (firm but not hard) and I say shhh-shhh (I make each shhh sound long instead of short). Eventually she calms down and then after 5 min. or so I lay her down. If she fusses when I lay her down then I roll her on her side so I have access ro her back and pat her again while she's down and get as close to her as I can to do the shh-shh. It's a routine I read in one of the Baby Whisperer books. It's not always easy to do but it does work if you are persistent.

littlesunshine - Thursday, 18 Mar
Took my boys for their 8 week checkup yesterday and I dont think that they will have the same issue as their sister. Mark is up to 5.2kg (11.4pounds). That is a gain of 2.3kg (5.06pounds) in 8 weeks. And Liam is now 4.8kg (10.56pounds) which is a gain of 2.1kg (4.62pounds). Mark has jumped from the 15% to the 50%. My boys are going to be big and tall like DH and my DD is going to be little like me.

littlesunshine - Thursday, 18 Mar
Karen I EBF my DD and when she was doing well always at the 50 % for her hight and weight. Then at about 4 months she all of a sudden lost about half a kilo and dropped to the 10% and stopped growing. I had to put her on formula which I hated. No one could tell me why she stopped putting on weight but she was ok once she was on the formula although she is still small still on the 10% line at the age of 2. I sorry your LO is not putting on the weight.

jane81 - Thursday, 18 Mar
lb71 (Karen), yes, I heard about the fat content of the milk. My in-laws own a child care, and they told me that one woman brings them breastmilk, and her daughter can take only a few sips, and she is sooo chubby. Her milk is so fat, it's completely yellow...

secondstar - Thursday, 18 Mar
Gobliness - I'm glad I'm not alone, but sorry you're dealing with this too. It's so hard because I get so little sleep so at night I have no desire to try to get him to self-soothe himself and sleep in the crib/bouncer/anything but me..so I keep making things worse by nursing him to sleep (I don't do that for naps) and letting him sleep on me. He's asleep on my chest as I type this. I used to not be able to sleep like that..but it's my only option so now I manage to get some very light and broken sleep. Talking to him, patting him, picking up and soothing and putting him back down doesnt seem to do anything..he just cries and cries until he's where he wants to be. I had to wear him in the carrier at Home Depot just so DH and I could spend some time picking out plants because he cries in the stroller or cart also. I took him for a walk this morning though and he did not cry! So at least that was something :)

secondstar - Thursday, 18 Mar
Karen - I'm sorry..that must be so frustrating. When Aaron was born my nurse told me that a friend of hers ended up not being able to bf because her milk had little to no fat in it. I think it's pretty uncommon but I guess it happens. You've worked so hard and have done everything you could so try not to feel badly..it must be something that can't be controlled. It's funny how different all our experiences are. My son nurses for 15-30 minutes on one side per feeding and he's been gaining a pound a week....but he also only sleeps on my chest..so we all have our own issues ;)

naaster - Thursday, 18 Mar
Karen, I was so hoping to hear better news on Emmett's weight. I'm so sorry :(

lb71 (Karen) - Thursday, 18 Mar
So I feel pretty good about where we are with the sleep stuff... but the weight gain continues to elude us. :-( I've been EBF, 15 min one side then the other then back again etc until he is satisfied, and I start again 2 hrs after he finished feeding the last time. I have been doing this around the clock, and I drink MM tea & lots of water, keep track of the feeds in writing, and I make sure I can hear Emmett swallowing. And on average it's been about 5 hrs a day that he is actively on the breast. And yet -- in the last week, he gained only ONE OUNCE! He is *still* 2 oz below his birth weight, and he will be 6 wks old tomorrow! Dr now says for me to start supplementing, and I'll do it, and it's OK; I'm not thrilled but I'm already doing all I can on my own, so I accept that formula is necessary at this point. But what I do not understand, is how all of this breast milk isn't enough for him to gain weight! I just pumped 45 min after nursing him and got 1 1/2 on one side and 3/4 oz on the other in about 8 minutes per side. The dr says that some women have milk that is too low calorie?? Has anyone else been told this? I am so frustrated right now. I'm exhausted and sore, and I'd be fine with that if it was doing my son some good. But now in addition to everything else I'm doing, I also have to add FF to my whole routine. Trying really hard not to feel let down... but I just don't understand how my milk can be too low calorie. :-(

lb71 (Karen) - Thursday, 18 Mar
jane - my son has the red bumps on his face, also his ears, and a little on his head. I read somewhere (Sears? Spock? WTE? couldn't tell you which, lol) that it can last 3 months but is normal.

kelleyann70 - Thursday, 18 Mar
Jane- yes thats baby acne. They start getting little pimples around three weeks and will clear up in about a month at the most. I looked it up in the DR. Sears book and it said that its a hormonal thing just like acne in your teenage years but if the bumps continue or are on the neck it might be allergies or a food sensitivity.

jane81 - Thursday, 18 Mar
Do any of your babies have red spots on their faces? Kind of like pimples... Do you know if that's normal?

naaster - Thursday, 18 Mar
SO I went out last night with b/f and a bunch of friends for ST Patricks day. Willow went to granny's around 3pm, and isn't due back until noon today! I missed her so bad last night. I had some fun, but I kept thinking how I'd rather be at home with her sleeping in her bassinet then losing sleep out drinking with friends! I just couldn't get into it as much as I used to. And this morning it's about driving me NUTS that she's not here yet!

Gobliness - Thursday, 18 Mar
Secondstar, i am in exactly the same boat!! I have taken to wearing my LO in a carrier sling against me but I am trying so hard not to have her with me at night...last night I had NO sleep and neither did she so today was AWFUL. I have tried everything to keep her asleep when I put her in, I have tried getting her to self settle but she just SCREAMS!! She was so good a week ago and I was getting good sleep..it has got worse and worse and I worry that I am doing things to make it worse too. I am trying to be consistent with resettling at night but I am so tired I am becoming ineffective...I don't know what to do because what works it what I wanted to avoid. I also can;t seem to fall asleep with her on me no matter how long I lie there....ARGH!!!!

kelleyann70 - Wednesday, 17 Mar
Stella only liked being swaddled for about a week. After awhile she would look like Harry Houdini in a straight jacket trying to free her hands. We used the swaddle at night with her arms free just to keep her warm. Lately its been so nice she just has been sleeping in a gown and thats it. I sometimes lay a blanket over her legs. She's in a co-sleeper right next to me so I can keep an eye on the blanket through-out the night.

Linnea - Wednesday, 17 Mar
jane81 - Micah doesn't like being swaddled either. We dress him in a sleeper, then wrap him in a swaddle blanket, but leave his arms out. Our first baby needed to be swaddled. You could practically see her breathe a sigh of relief when we wrapped her up tight. But every baby's different... it takes time to learn each one. Then just when you have it figured out, they change! =)

jane81 - Wednesday, 17 Mar
lb71 (Karen), thank you so much for your comment! It's really helpful because I am trying to establish a routine as well, and you've been really helpful. My son, Eli, is doing so much better. DH and I still take turns to go to sleep to make sure everyone gets some sleep (I go from 7pm until he's tired, and they sleep downstairs), and then it's my turn... But Eli has been sleeping on his own (not in our arms). In fact, one night he slept 6 hours in a row, and we didn't wake him up to eat. The doctor said we should, but... we didn't. Because as I know, he would fall asleep not even eating anyway, and I didn't want to overstimulate him because he wouldn't fall back asleep. He is also more aware now (he's 6 weeks TODAY), and cries less during the day. At first he would either be awake or crying, but now he just entertains himself. I also learned he doesn't like being swaddled sometimes (it took us 5 weeks to understand it), and he actually DOES sleep with his arms free. Btw, how do you dress your LO's at night time??? Sorry for a long post!

beebee16 - Wednesday, 17 Mar
I know most babies lose some hair when it rubs when they're laid down, but how long does it take to come back? Caitlin has really thick dark hair & has started to go bald on the sides.....my girl is going to have a mohican :(

kelleyann70 - Wednesday, 17 Mar
linnea- I hear you. There are times i feel trapped on the couch because Stella doesn't want to be anywhere but in my arms. She can settle her self at night in the cosleeper and wakes up the predictable two-three hours but during the day I feel like I can't do anything but BF her, change her and walk her in the stroller. Even on walks I end up carrying her in a sling if she's really fussy. Stella is only 4 weeks old.

kelleyann70 - Wednesday, 17 Mar
I went into work this morning for a few hours. My boss is due in May and seeing her baby bump had me missing being pregnant. I think I miss carrying my baby inside and being the only one who could feel her all day long. Looking back on it now, it was a very intimate experience. I am sad I won't have that sensation again.

Linnea - Wednesday, 17 Mar
Micah's been doing pretty well with two feedings a night, but last night was rough and I feel like I barely slept at all. And of course today, he's super fussy. I've been holding him or wearing him in the Ergo almost all day and my back is killing me! I definitely think this is a hard stage for babies. They're not newborns so they don't sleep all the time, but they're too little to do much with their energy besides fuss. I remember with DD that by 2 months, things had gotten much easier. She would lay on her playmat and hold her rattles and be a bit more entertained. I love how sweet and little Micah is, but today I'm so tired that I'm just happy this phase won't last forever.

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