A one-month-old baby: the characteristics of the baby and the tasks of its development. Expert advice

What can a 1 month old baby do?

The most important thing a newborn baby needs is to feel peace, warmth and security. He receives all this from his mother if he feels that she is nearby, if you talk to the baby in a gentle voice, gently pressing him to your chest (after all, he heard the beat of your heart for all 9 months - this is a familiar, familiar sound, indicating safety).

When the baby is awake, create eye contact and talk to the baby as if he were an equal interlocutor. When swaddling or changing clothes, you should not do it with cold or sweaty hands - babies are distinguished by tactile sensitivity.

Already in the third week after birth, on the basis of unconditioned reflexes, the child begins to form conditioned reflexes that contribute to adaptation to the outside world. This means that the baby is “ready to learn.” It’s too early to read, count and write. But the little man will master the science of “correct” behavior (that is, one that can most fully satisfy his needs) quite quickly.

If in order for mom to appear, you have to scream loudly and for a long time, he will strain himself and yell to “joy” you and your neighbors. And if you squeak enough and mom appears, there’s no reason to scream. It may turn out that the baby firmly understands: the world he has come to is not ready to “respond” to his desires. This usually happens if the baby is fed not when he is hungry, but when adults “need” it; if they are ready to leave the child alone because “the time has come,” for example, for sleep.

Child development: facial expressions and speech

At 2-3 weeks, the baby gradually masters the science of copying. Of all his surroundings, he is most attracted to the human face - first of all, his mother's. Therefore, he constantly examines the faces bending over him or talking to him (the rest is still drowning in a foggy haze - this vision is just beginning to form).

If you make active facial movements during communication, the child will soon begin to repeat them, “answering” you. Mom sticks out her tongue and a tiny tongue appears between her lips. Mom smiles - the baby’s face also breaks into a smile. Mom sticks out her lips - the baby echoes her...

Also intuitively, the baby feels the emotions coming from the adult. If the mother is happy and calm, the child is also comfortable. If the mother is irritated, angry, or swears, the baby instantly reacts by crying in protest.

By the end of 1 month, “speech” joins facial expressions. Babies who are talked to a lot walk in response and make squeaking and snorting sounds. Those who are more active “talk” with their whole body - they reach out to mom with their arms and legs, raise their butts, and arch their backs. These actions are not yet conscious, but they perfectly train the baby’s muscular system.

The newborn signals his emotional state by crying or smiling. Crying expresses dissatisfaction, discomfort, fear, pain, cold or heat. A smile in the first weeks of life is a sign of calm contentment. At first, the baby smiles involuntarily, almost only in his sleep. Later, a smile can be observed both after feeding and during bathing. In all these cases they talk about a physiological or gastric smile.

But by the end of 1 month, the baby’s smile begins to fill with social content, appearing in response to contact from a neighbor. And soon the so-called “revival complex” will appear - a vivid emotional reaction of the baby to an adult’s address to him.

The key to normal child development

The main condition is that the mother is “at his complete disposal.” Don't be afraid to spoil your child or raise him to be selfish. On the contrary, your instant response to all needs and desires will help your child become a self-confident, strong and kind person. Knowing that the mother is always nearby, the baby will not disturb and demand your attention “just like that,” “in reserve” - such behavior is precisely typical of children experiencing a constant lack of maternal affection.

At 1 month, you should focus on the physiological development of your son or daughter. The intervals of wakefulness are very short. Try to distribute them so that you have enough time for exercise, massage, swimming and playing in the water. It is very useful to support the unconditioned reflexes given to babies by nature: crawling, walking, grasping.

The child has not yet learned to listen well and carefully. To develop hearing, firstly, be sure to talk to the baby. The baby distinguishes sounds by pitch and prefers meaningful speech to a set of words. When his mother speaks to him, he can freeze and listen - this is his first experience of sound concentration.

Secondly, let your child listen to music. The more varied it is, the better. Research shows that the works of Mozart, Vivaldi, and Haydn contribute to the normalization of various physiological processes in the infant body. So, if possible, play works by these composers for your child. Lovely music can be played softly when the child is awake and when he is sleeping.

Exercises in the water

To prevent your baby from being afraid of water, lower him into the water carefully, starting from his heels. After all, children are very sensitive to changes in the “physical data” of the world around them - they just have to get used to their weightlessness in water.

It’s great if you swim together for the first few days; your mother’s presence will immediately remove all possible negative emotions. If you are in the bathroom together, place your baby so that his back and the back of his head rest on your chest and shoulder, and support him under his tummy with your left hand. At this moment, with your right hand you can water the baby with water or show him toys.

By the way, you can swim “together” with your dad. This is even more interesting - daddy’s knees and long legs will make amazing slides for the little one! If you are standing “overboard”, place the baby on your tummy, supporting it under the chin and chest or just under the chin, and roll it around the entire bath, rock it up and down, slightly turn it from side to side.

Surely the baby will enjoy pushing off the side of the bathtub with his feet. To do this, turn the baby at the very edge so that he rests against the wall with his bent legs. The child must push off on his own and slide a little along the surface of the water. When you get it to the opposite edge, repeat the steps. If the baby does not immediately understand what you want from him, make several springy movements that imitate pushes from the side.

Another fun and useful exercise for those who are just starting to master the water space is walking along the bottom of the bathtub. To allow the baby to move freely, hold him under the armpits, tilting him slightly forward, stimulating reflex stepping movements. After the child has “walked” - preferably on his back (unless, of course, your child prefers to swim exclusively on his stomach).

By the way, swimming on your back, when the baby sways slightly in your arms from side to side, perfectly develops the vestibular apparatus and sense of balance. This “sea motion” is an excellent prevention of future “transport” problems.

Child development: vision and hearing

Place a bright toy (ball, rattle, ring) at arm's length in the child's field of vision at a distance of 60-70 cm above his face and wait until the baby's gaze lingers on the toy. After this, start swinging it right and left with an amplitude of 5-7 cm and a frequency of about 2 times per second.

Then move the toy in different directions (right, left, up, down), bringing it closer to the baby by 20-30 cm and moving it away at arm's length. Lesson duration – 1-2 minutes, frequency – 1-2 times a day. You should do the same with a toy that makes a quiet, soft sound.

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It seems that the first month after the birth of a baby lasts forever. Still would! Your whole life changes radically. If earlier a mother could easily leave the house, go shopping, or visit a friend, now she is mainly busy with one thing: caring for her precious little one.

It’s not just parents who are getting used to their new life. For a child, the first month is also a kind of adaptation to a new world, new conditions of existence. However, by the 28-day mark on the calendar after birth, your baby moves from the category of “newborn” to the honorary title of “infant,” which will remain with him for up to a year. And even this says a lot about the development of the baby. The baby has acquired certain skills, and a new period in his life begins. So, your baby is 1 month old, what changes?

Physical indicators

The child grows and develops at incredible speed. During the first month, the toddler's weight gain will be about 800-900 grams, and his height will increase by 3 centimeters. So don't buy too many baby items, especially if you're due in the summer.

It may happen that the weight gain in a month is 600 grams. This is not critical, because lactation is developing, the body “works” a lot to rebuild the circulatory system, start the kidneys, digestion, etc. to function fully. Therefore, by the time you are discharged from the maternity hospital, the weight will be less than at birth. However, rapid weight loss should not be allowed during the first month. If this happens, be sure to consult your pediatrician.

The “strong grip” is explained by the presence of protective reflexes that accompany the baby from birth

About reflexes

Often, the baby's behavior and movements are controlled by innate reflexes. They are used to judge the development of the nervous system, because each has its own time of appearance and extinction. By the end of the first month, most reflexes are still present and can be clearly demonstrated:

Place your finger in the baby’s palm: he will tightly clench his fist and hold on to it (grasping reflex).
Touch his cheek with your hand - he will immediately turn his head in search of the “stimulus” (search reflex).
Place your finger near the mouth - the baby will immediately begin to smack, as if sucking something (sucking reflex).
Try to put the baby on his feet, holding his armpits, and sort of walk with him - surprisingly, the little one walks as if he always knew how to do this (automatic gait reflex).
Place the baby on his stomach - he will immediately turn his head to the side (protective reflex).
Slam the table with your palm near the lying toddler - he will sharply spread his arms and legs to the sides (Moro reflex).

Sleeping like a baby

In the first month, babies sleep 18-20 hours a day. The first week after birth is characterized by sound, restful sleep. However, you should not expect your baby to sleep for 3 hours without a break. Modern children, starting from the second week, sleep during the day for an hour, maximum one and a half. Then they wake up to refresh themselves. The daily routine has yet to be established.

When awake, the baby spends all the time lying on his back, the pose resembles a frog: the arms are bent at the elbows and raised, the legs are spread apart and also bent. This is explained by physiological hypertonicity. The child has been in the fetal position for a long time, and now he needs time to relax.

The room where a newborn sleeps should be cozy, draft-free, but at the same time well ventilated. Since your baby's thermoregulation is just being adjusted, make sure he doesn't overheat. How to check whether a baby is hot or not? Touch the back of your head and neck with your palm. If they are wet, feel free to remove a “layer” of clothing. Remember: overheating is more dangerous than hypothermia.

A newborn's hearing is not particularly sensitive at first, so it is not at all necessary to accustom the child to complete silence. You can talk in a low voice in the room.

The healthiest sleep is lying on your back or side. To avoid deformation of the head, do not allow it to be turned in one direction all the time. Pediatricians say that children under one year old do not need a pillow; it can even cause harm. Sometimes there are cases of suffocation of a child sleeping on his stomach with his nose buried in a pillow. In addition, a flat, hard surface helps shape the curves of the spine properly.

Should I swaddle my baby for a restful sleep? At your discretion. Many parents note that children then sleep more soundly and do not wake themselves up with sudden movements of their hands. Just give preference to loose swaddling, as tight swaddling can contribute to the development of hip dysplasia. While awake, give your baby complete freedom of movement.

The room where the baby sleeps should be comfortable and have enough fresh air.

A one-month-old baby's sleep may be accompanied by sneezing and sudden movements resembling shuddering. This is absolutely normal for this period, provided that there are no obvious signs of the disease.

Vision and hearing at 1 month

All newborns are myopic. They don’t even see mom’s face very clearly. But they like to look at people bending over the crib more than inanimate objects. By the middle of the first month, the baby is able to fix his gaze on a bright object that is in motion.

During the first month, the eyes may squint slightly, which is not a cause for concern, because the visual system is also being adjusted, and the muscles of the eyeball should strengthen. But if the strabismus does not go away by the third month, you need to see a doctor.

Hearing in newborns is also underdeveloped, but by the end of the first month the baby will catch up. The baby really likes his native voices, familiar to him from the womb. By the way, babies prefer high-pitched conversations more than low-pitched ones. Closer to a month, the baby reacts not only to sharp sounds, but also listens to the ticking of the clock, the sound of water, and car signals. Hearing a voice, he turns his head in the direction of its sound.

But the sense of smell in babies is very well developed. They easily find the breast and grab the nipple by the smell of milk; they recognize their mother by the smell. Therefore, it is not recommended to use perfume: the child may not recognize his loved one.

Nutritional Features

Without a doubt, the best food for newborns is breast milk. And although there is only one product on the menu so far, milk strengthens children’s immunity, provides the baby with all the necessary microelements and, moreover, is “cheap”. Therefore, the mother needs to strive with all her might to maintain and maintain lactation.

We can talk endlessly about breastfeeding. We have devoted separate articles to many questions on the website. There are two feeding methods: on demand and by the clock. However, when nutrition is just getting better, pediatricians tend to feed on demand, but not more often than after 1.5-2 hours. Over time, the interval will increase.

Colic

By the middle of the first month, many infants experience painful colic along with bloating and intestinal cramps. Behavior becomes restless. It is still not completely clear why colic occurs. It is recommended to give the baby a tummy massage, apply heat, and give simethicone-based drops. By about three months, colic goes away.

Colic becomes a real test for the whole family, but do not forget: it is temporary

Regurgitation

Due to underdeveloped muscles of the digestive organs and swallowing air, a newborn may burp frequently in the first month of life. In general, this phenomenon is also normal and physiological for this age, but you can try to minimize it. To do this, after each feeding, carry the baby in a column until the swallowed air leaves; make sure you are latching your baby to the breast correctly; Before feedings, place the baby on his tummy.

Going to the doctors

When you reach your first month, plan your first trip to the pediatrician. At the appointment, they will measure your height and weight, head circumference, listen to your heart beat, feel your tummy, and examine your throat. The doctor will answer all your questions about breastfeeding.

An important factor in health research is newborn ultrasound. A safe ultrasound scan will allow you to assess whether hip dysplasia is developing (ultrasound of the hip joints), whether intracerebral circulation is normal (sonography - ultrasound of the brain), how the internal organs work (ultrasound of the abdominal cavity).

It makes sense to carry out such examinations as early as possible, because diseases identified at the initial stages are easier and faster to treat. Every month they usually donate blood for biochemistry, as well as urine and stool tests. At the same time, a surgeon, an orthopedist and a neurologist are scheduled.

If the baby is healthy, a second vaccination against hepatitis B is given (the first was in the maternity hospital). Then comes a series of vaccinations against whooping cough, diphtheria, polio, and tetanus with an interval of at least 30 days. Therefore, you will have to visit the clinic regularly over the next 12 months.

Baby care

Care includes daily hygiene procedures and walks in the air. In the second week of life, as a rule, the umbilical cord residue falls off, but the wound still needs to be treated with brilliant green for some time.

If the umbilical ring is oozing, swollen, or leaking pus, consult a doctor. You should also consult if the scab from the wound has not fallen off after two weeks.

Observe that there is no protrusion in the navel, groin and scrotum area when crying or straining. An umbilical or inguinal hernia often appears due to underdeveloped muscles and tension when screaming.

You have probably already noticed 2 fontanelles on your baby’s head: frontal and parietal. These places are especially vulnerable because they are not covered by the bones of the skull, but do not be afraid to gently wash them. They also need to be looked after.

It is advisable to carry out water procedures daily. Remember that girls are washed from front to back to prevent infection from getting into the genitals. In boys, the head of the penis is still covered by the foreskin, which is an absolutely physiological phenomenon. Rinse the penis as much as circumstances allow, but do not overdo it. Caring for it should be without unnecessary “interventions”.

Mental development

While the baby’s actions are aimed at satisfying his physical needs, he also needs emotional communication. The main way of expressing feelings is crying. Parents quickly learn to recognize what the baby is trying to say with his crying: he is hungry, wants to sleep, has a tummy ache, or simply requires attention to himself.

Let your baby “bathe” in love and affection

By the end of the first month, many children enjoy their first conscious smile. It arises in response to the mother’s tender treatment and gives unforgettable emotions. In a one-month-old baby, you can develop facial movements by bending over him while awake and communicating. Over time, a certain variety of sounds appears: snorting, peculiar squeaks, vaguely reminiscent of humming.

Normal mental development involves frequently carrying a baby in your arms. Don't be afraid to spoil him. He has every right to the warmth and affection of his mother. Skin-to-skin contact plays an important role in the first month of life.

How to play with a baby

It seems that it is difficult to communicate with a child who is constantly lying down and cannot speak. But if the initiative comes from you now, the foundation is laid for a trusting relationship in the future. What to do with a one month old baby?

Place a mobile with toys and pleasant music above the crib at a level of 60-70 cm from the face.
Sing lullabies to the baby, investing your feelings.
Make a face (wink, stick out your tongue, curl your lips) - your baby will want to repeat all this very soon.
Play classical music (Strauss, Vivaldi) quietly.
Talk to your baby, telling him how your day went, something about dad, grandma, grandpa, etc. The tone of your voice matters: let it be calm.

The little imitator copies everything he can.

What about exercise?

Exercises to strengthen muscles are no less important than feeding and walking in the fresh air. The massage is done 30 minutes after feeding, if the child is in a good mood. So:

stroke the entire body: from the chest to the shoulders, from the foot to the boot;
You can massage your fingers and toes; knead your foot, drawing figure eights with your finger;
in a supine position, place your index fingers in the baby's arms - he will immediately grab them; then the hands are lightly spread to the sides and, as it were, shaken;
during the massage, talk to the baby, showing in your tone of voice that the procedure is necessary and pleasant;
exercise comes down to flexion and extension of the limbs; Gymnastics classes in the first month last no more than 10 minutes.

Summarize. Your child has achieved tremendous results in a month. He studies hard and remembers everything he sees. With each subsequent month he will delight you with his successes. Don’t forget to praise him and enjoy new achievements with him. Enjoy motherhood!

The behavior of a newborn in the first weeks of life is just a chain of reactions to the rapidly changing sensations that the world around him gives him. The baby has instincts, reflexes, sensory organs, but he has neither knowledge nor experience, he does not yet know that he is himself, and not part of the world around him.

In his system of thinking there is no cause and effect - events happen as if on their own, independently of each other. Whether a child hears his own crying, or calms down when he touches his mother’s breast, everything in this world happens unexpectedly for him. Perhaps both the crying and the feeling of hunger disappear because mom came? Only after some time a connection between these events is built in the baby’s mind.

Gradually, the baby begins to intuitively feel safe, feeling a loved one nearby. The day will come when you too will feel that the child has ceased to be an unknown and unpredictable creature for you. As soon as this happens, know that your baby has finally adapted to life outside the mother’s body, he is no longer a newborn, he is a baby!

No one except the parents themselves can determine when this will happen. With the onset of this period, the child’s trust in you increases, and your confidence in your abilities grows. It is during these first weeks that a bond of love is formed between you and your baby. Throughout his life, the child will draw energy from them and build relationships with the outside world on their basis.

Learning to understand each other

The period of infancy is the time when both the child and the parents adapt to each other. An integral part of this process is the baby’s self-regulation. He learns to independently regulate the degree of his activity, so as to smoothly transition from sleep to wakefulness and vice versa.

In the first weeks after the birth of your baby, you will spend a lot of energy trying to help your baby master these transitional states. During periods of wakefulness, the baby reacts to sounds, looks intently at faces and objects in front of him - his energy is aimed at perceiving information. It is at these moments that parents have the opportunity to engage and communicate with the baby.

However, too intense exercise can tire your child out. If his mouth wrinkles, his fists clench, and he nervously moves his legs, then it’s time to rest. Periods of activity and rest in the life of a little man should alternate. By properly organizing your daily routine, you will help your baby naturally move from one state to another.

After feeding, for example, you can hold him in an upright position, leaning him against your shoulder, or pick him up and gently rock him. If your baby is screaming, help him calm down. But remember that each child requires an individual approach.

Some children become quiet if their parents carefully take them in their arms or wrap them in a warm, soft blanket. Others, on the contrary, become irritated by any restriction of freedom and calm down much more quickly when they are placed on a flat surface, without covering or impeding their movements.

Sounds, as well as movements, have a calming effect on children. Some people calm down faster when they hear a clock ticking, etc. Others respond better to soft talking, monotone singing, or whispering. There are also children who like music - lullabies, recordings of classical works, etc.

There are two ways in which a child can communicate his internal state - smiling and crying. In the first weeks of a baby’s life, they appear as if by themselves and reflect a reaction to the physiological processes occurring inside his body.

A cry is a sign of discomfort or pain, a smile is evidence that the baby is calm and enjoying himself. Gradually the balance begins to shift. Crying and smiling are increasingly regulated by external factors, and as a result, the child begins, of course, without words, to communicate with his parents.

The first wandering smile appears on the baby's face during sleep. At the age of two weeks, the newborn begins to smile not only in his sleep, the smile can also be seen after feeding. By the third or fourth week, qualitative changes occur in the smile. The child already reacts to the parents’ voice, establishes visual contact with them and, in the end, rewards the adults with a completely conscious smile.

But if your baby, even despite the caring attitude of adults, is not easy to calm down, do not lose confidence in yourself. Remember that the baby’s increased excitability often depends on the internal physiological processes occurring in his body. Through trial and error, you gain experience and find your own ways to calm your son or daughter.

Motor skills of a baby at 1 month

We tend to think that all newborns begin their development from the same starting point, but infants differ markedly from each other in their level of motor activity. Some are surprisingly lethargic and passive, others, on the contrary, show noticeable activity. If such a child is placed face down in a crib, he will slowly but persistently move towards the head of the bed until he hits the very corner.

Another important difference in newborns is the level of muscle tone. Some children look very tense: their knees are constantly bent, their arms are pressed tightly to their body, their fingers are tightly clenched into fists. Others are more relaxed, the muscle tone of their limbs is not so strong.

The third difference is the degree of development of the sensory-motor system. It is very easy to throw someone out of balance: with any, even minor noise, the baby shudders with his whole body, and his arms and legs begin to move randomly. And some people seem to know from birth how to put their hand in their mouth, and often do this to calm themselves down.

The different levels of development of motor skills, muscle tone and sensory-motor system that are observed in newborns reflect features in the organization of the nervous system. Active, well-developed children with normal muscle tone are considered “light.”

It is more difficult for parents of passive, lethargic babies, as well as for mothers and fathers of children with too tense muscle tone, which is observed in 1 month of life. Fortunately, thanks to the caring care and patience of their parents, most children overcome these difficulties and quickly catch up with their peers in their development.

I see, I hear, I feel...

A child is born with a certain set of reactions that help him adapt to the world around him. He squints his eyes when a bright light comes on or an object comes close to his face. At a short distance, he can follow with his gaze a moving object or a human face.

The baby even shows certain preferences among what he sees. Typically, babies are particularly attracted to moving objects and black and white combinations. By the way, to stimulate vision development, try walking around at home in vests!

The newborn also has remarkable hearing. Did you know that a child is able to distinguish a human voice from any other sound? However, although a newborn can perceive sound and turn in the direction from which it is coming, his visual and auditory systems are not sufficiently coordinated.

If a child hears a noise whose source is directly in front of him, he will not instinctively look for it. Such coordination takes time to develop. By giving the baby the opportunity to get acquainted with objects that attract his attention both by their appearance and their sound, parents lay the foundation in the baby’s mind for the ability to connect what he sees with what he hears.

A newborn also has access to other sensations. For example, he turns away from strong and pungent odors and reacts to all kinds of touches. While vigorous rubbing with a terry towel excites the baby, a gentle massage can put him to sleep. It is especially pleasant for the baby to feel the touch of human skin.

Activities with a 1 month old baby

The newborn sleeps most of the time. Periods of active wakefulness, when he is ready to perceive new information, are rare and short-lived. Therefore, you should not plan activities with your baby in advance, just do not miss the opportunity.

When your child is awake, try to vary his positions. Let him lie on his stomach for a while, then on his back or side. Being in different positions, the baby will learn to move his arms and legs. Enjoy the time you spend with your beloved little one. Laugh and have fun with him.

Don't be afraid to spoil your child. Try to quickly fulfill his wishes. If you give your baby enough attention when he needs it, he won't bother you too much. First of all, a baby needs human warmth, so he loves to be held. If a baby is rarely held, he may become lethargic and apathetic.

22.01.2020 09:08:00

A baby who has just been born seems to do nothing but lie almost motionless in his crib. Meanwhile, a lot of physiological changes occur in his body. He “looks closely” at this world and, although he still does not know how to express his emotions, he experiences them to the fullest.

What should a 1 month old baby be able to do?

when a stationary object appears in the field, he concentrates his gaze on it;
squints his eyes if he sees a bright source of light;
quite consciously examines the face of the person bending over him, looks into his eyes;
lying on his stomach, the baby tries to raise his head and keep it suspended;
reacts to sounds and when calling for help;
can grasp an object, but cannot yet hold it in the hand;
moves his eyes, watching moving objects;
recognizes parents by voice and smell;
at the end of the first month, the first inclinations of speech appear - the baby cooes and pronounces individual sounds.

This is just an approximate list of what a baby should do at 1 month. Early development for all children follows an individual plan, which often does not entirely coincide with standard instructions from a children's clinic or online articles.

Despite the fact that the baby is active no more than 2-3 hours a day, while awake he happily explores the world around him and is quite ready for new knowledge. He listens carefully to your lullabies, and generally responds very well to his mother’s voice.

When the child is not sleeping, do everything possible to make him comfortable in his crib: change positions more often, take him in your arms, talk, laugh and rejoice with him! Give your son or daughter as much attention as possible, because he has only recently come into this world, and in order to quickly adapt to it, he needs contact with his mother.

Features of child development at 1 month

At the earliest stage of life, a baby has several basic reflexes. So, the “plantar” reflex is expressed in the fact that when you run your finger along his foot, he will certainly pull the foot away. You can observe the sucking reflex if you run your finger over your baby’s lips: he will fold them into a tube and try to “suck” your finger. From the very first days of life, a child also has a developed grasping reflex: put your finger on the child’s palm, and you will see that he will clench his hand into a fist.

Norms of weight and height of children at 1 month

		Height, cm	Weight, kg	Circle heads, cm
BOYS	short
	below average
	average
	higher average
	high
GIRLS	short
	below average
	average
	higher average
	high

So, from this table it is not difficult to determine how much a child should weigh at 1 month. The decisive factor is the weight of the baby at the time of birth and on the day of discharge from the hospital. This data is entered into the baby's card. It’s good to have one at home for weighing a child.

But how much a baby should gain in 1 month is the concern of most new mothers. At the end of the first month of life, the child gains an average of 100-900 g. In premature babies, these figures are lower. During the first month, a healthy baby grows by an average of 3 cm. Other indicators are also important. So, in a children's clinic, a pediatrician at a routine examination at 1 month should measure the circumference of the child's head, abdomen and chest. Such indicators are very important so that all possible violations can be identified and corrected in a timely manner. An examination by a neurologist is recommended at the end of the first month of life.

1 month old baby's daily routine

When asked how much a 1 month old baby should sleep, pediatric neurologists answer: all the time. In theory, this is true, but in practice, a few weeks after birth, the baby will spend much more time awake than before. Normally, a newborn should sleep 20-23 hours a day, but it happens that he...

He is usually woken up by a feeling of hunger. Today, pediatricians recommend feeding the baby on demand.

Main rules for mom

Hold your baby in your arms for changing and feeding when he is calm. This will help establish emotional communication with him. You need to talk to your child kindly and quietly. Create a calm atmosphere in your child's room. Then the baby will be calm and balanced.

Probably, back in the maternity hospital they explained to you how to properly hold a newborn. Be sure to instruct all family members, as well as guests who come to you and want to hold the baby in their arms. (In the first months of life, however, it is better not to allow strangers to hold your baby. Learn to politely refuse, your friends will understand). Warn everyone that you should definitely support the baby’s head with one palm, since his neck is still weak for this.
Today on sale we often see kangaroo backpacks marked 0+. However, pediatricians, pediatric neurologists and orthopedists unanimously argue that the use of devices in which the baby sits is not permissible until the age when the child himself learns to sit, that is, his bones and muscles are ready for this. And the 0+ mark on such products is nothing more than a marketing ploy.

A newborn baby, if he does not mind, except just in her arms, the mother can carry in a sling, where the baby will lie. Moreover, the time he spends in the sling should also be limited. Now the most comfortable and useful surface for a baby is moderately hard, like an orthopedic mattress in his crib. And, of course, mother’s hands are in favor.

Daily routine for a baby in the first month of life

The daily routine of a newborn consists of two periods: sleep (as we have already said, this is about 20 - 23 hours a day) and periods of wakefulness. The “cheerful” hours are intended for feeding, changing clothes and performing simple gymnastics for newborns (the local pediatrician will tell you about it during your first visit).

In the first month it is too early to talk about establishing a clear routine for the child. Modern pediatrics teaches us to feed the child according to every requirement. Feeding should end when the baby lets go of the breast on his own. If the child falls asleep without opening his jaws, carefully insert your little finger, spread the jaws and easily release the breast from the baby’s mouth. in the first month they do not have constant regularity: the baby may ask for the breast either a few hours after the last meal or a few minutes later. In the first month, be prepared to devote almost all of your time to your baby and feed him as often and for as long as he wants.

Nutrition for a 1 month old baby

Our mothers were once taught to set a feeding schedule for newborns: 10 - 15 minutes every 3 hours. However, today such an approach is considered artificial and painful for the child - it is better to trust his instincts, he himself knows when and how much milk to consume.

On average, the answer to the question of how much a child should eat in 1 month is calculated based on standard formulas:

daily dose of milk (in grams) for a child under 10 days = N x 80, where N is age in days,

conditional dose of one-time feeding = N x 10.

However, it is worth understanding that this norm is conditional, since at one time the baby can drink half of the one-time norm, and at the next feeding - one and a half. That is why control weighing of the child before and after feeding is not indicative, because you can end up just at that feeding when the baby has eaten less than usual.

For children over 10 days old, the daily dose of milk is approximately 800 - 1000 g.

With breast milk it’s clear. And if the baby receives, then how much formula should a child eat at 1 month? The answer is: single servings of the mixture should be measured in accordance with the above nutritional standards, while maintaining standard regularity and not exceeding dosages. The fact is that formula, unlike breast milk, can overfeed a child, which will cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract and excess weight in the future.

In the first weeks of life, alas, they are not uncommon. Their cause is the immaturity of the baby’s gastrointestinal tract. Children receiving formula are especially susceptible to this scourge. It is not difficult to determine that a baby is suffering from colic - if the child screams, pressing his legs to his stomach, colic is most likely the cause. In such cases, frequently placing the baby's tummy on the mother's belly helps - your warmth will ease the pain. In addition, there are pharmaceutical products - fennel drops (also known as dill water), drugs such as espumisan, etc. Using any of the medications without consulting a pediatrician is strictly prohibited.

Child and toilet

To find out whether the baby has enough milk, the so-called. “wet diaper test” - the number of urinations per day should be at least 8, ideally 10 - 12.

As for bowel movements, an individual rhythm is established in the child on the 4th - 5th day of life. The main indicators of the norm here are the baby’s good health, the absence of crying during the process (that is, the child does not experience pain during the process), the absence of a foul odor and foreign impurities in the stool (in a healthy child, the color of the stool is yellowish, the consistency of cream). As for the regime, the norm is both 1 bowel movement in 2 days and 10 - 12 per day. Everything is individual.

If the mother notices that the child cannot go to the toilet and suffers from this, it is necessary to urgently contact your pediatrician, who will tell you what can be done (usually in such cases an enema or glycerin suppositories for infants is recommended).

In general, the main indicator that everything is in order is what the baby looks like at 1 month. If the baby is cheerful, cheerful, smiling, has a consistent good appetite, but has bowel movements 1-2 times a week, this is not a reason to worry.

Sleep of a 1 month old baby

Since when the baby is full, he immediately falls asleep, change the baby’s clothes before putting him to the breast. If the baby objects and demands food right now, gently coax him, stroke his back and tummy while you change his clothes.

We risk upsetting you, but in the first month of his life, a newborn does not distinguish much between day and night, and, to put it mildly, it does not matter to him that you are used to living differently. That is, the nighttime sleep and feeding patterns will also be quite chaotic. Although it is believed that the baby should sleep continuously for at least 5-6 hours at night. But remember: how much a 1-month-old baby sleeps continuously at night does not mean anything. The baby can wake up every 1 - 2 hours at night as well as during the day to eat, and this is also normal.

It helps many mothers get enough sleep. The baby sleeps in the same bed with his mother (or in his own crib, but close to the parent’s side on the mother’s side, while the wall is removed) and, as soon as the fussiness demands the breast, the mother will be able to give him what he needs, while continuing to doze. Naturally, for this you must learn.

Also, if necessary, you should be able to change your child's clothes at night. Therefore, always keep wet wipes on hand (by the way, you can read how to choose diapers).

Surely you have heard the amazing stories of those young mothers who, almost from the first month, taught their baby to sleep all night in his own crib in a separate room, without waking up to feed even once during the night. Hand on heart, we can consider such stories, firstly, fantastic (although you never know what miracles happen in the world), and secondly, you should remember that long breaks between meals can be harmful for a newborn. It is believed that during the first 6 months of life, night feedings are a physiological need for the child. Later it’s a matter of habit. That is, we do not advise you to try to wean your baby from eating at night until he is at least six months old. Who said it would be easy?

The exception is for children who are bottle-fed. They really should be offered a bottle no more than once every 2-3 hours, then put in an upright position and carried around the room for 10-15 minutes. Since formula takes much longer to digest than breast milk, formula-fed babies often sleep most of the night without waking up. Talk to your pediatrician about your baby's night feeding schedule. Because, unlike breast milk, formula can actually overfeed a baby.

For a crib, the mattress should be covered with waterproof fabric. Next - put on the cover. The sheet for the baby should be properly tucked under the mattress. It is important that it does not bunch up and thereby cause inconvenience to the child. A child under 1.5 years old does not need a pillow, because it can bend the spine. In the first year, children's underwear should be washed separately from adults, and with... In the first month of his life, a newborn's linen should be ironed on both sides.

Bathing and washing

Particular attention should be paid. Firstly, you can start bathing only after the clothespin that was attached to him in the maternity hospital during the cutting of the umbilical cord falls off from the newborn’s navel. Secondly, all the time until it completely heals after bathing, it will definitely need to be treated with hydrogen peroxide and brilliant green, and the water for bathing must be boiled. The latter is now considered optional, but will not be superfluous.

The temperature of the water in the baby bath should be about 36 - 37 degrees, that is, equal to the child’s body temperature. Modern bathtubs for babies are equipped with temperature indicators (usually they have three levels: cold, normal, hot). If you don't trust such a device, use a regular alcohol thermometer.

Important! If you do boil water, do not pour it into the bath until it cools - this can, firstly, render the temperature indicator unusable, and secondly, cause unexpected reactions between the water and the plastic of the bath, thereby causing its toxicity.

You can add herbal infusions (chamomile, celandine) to your baby’s bath, but it is better to consult your pediatrician first, since the same recipes are not suitable for everyone (for example, the same pharmaceutical chamomile dries out the skin, and therefore I do not recommend using it, if the baby already has peeling).

It is recommended to bathe children using products marked “from birth” - such gels and shampoos are produced based on the needs of the newborn’s skin. And, of course, make sure that the one you are using really does not irritate your eyes - just test it on yourself (drop a little weak shampoo solution into your eye). If the baby does not suffer from dry skin and flaking, you can use baby soap (it is usually liked by mothers who want to minimize the use of cosmetics. The fact is that soap, unlike bathing gels, does not leave any film on the baby’s skin).

Bathing a baby lasts on average 5 – 15 minutes. Of course, the first bath is the shortest. Afterwards, wrap your baby in a soft towel and gently blot the moisture from his skin. Do not rub your baby's skin under any circumstances - it is too tender for this. Next, unfold the baby and examine the folds on his body. Perhaps some of them have slight warm spots that should be treated with sudocrem, bepanten, baby powder or diaper cream (the experience of using these products, as well as the formation of preferences, only comes with time :)) If there are areas due to dry skin, lubricate them baby cream or oil for newborns. Attention! Under no circumstances should cream or oil cover large areas of the baby's skin - this will impede breathing and can cause serious harm to the baby. Creams should be used only locally - at the site of redness or irritation.

After that, dress your baby as usual.

There are certain rules for such a procedure as washing girls and boys. And, if bathing is usually done in the evenings, then you need to wash the child every morning, after waking up before feeding, and after each bowel movement. To wash, just warm tap water is enough, there is no need to use soap.

Girls should be washed with a stream of water from front to back. Boys are strictly forbidden to retract their foreskin and try to wash the head of the penis! Nature took care of its isolation and the presence of a bactericidal lubricant under the foreskin - smegma, which protects the baby’s genitals from bacteria. Therefore, harmony cannot be violated.

Remember that when washing a child (both boys and girls), you should wash the genitals only from the outside!

As for washing, it should also be done in the morning before feeding. In the first weeks of life, you should use boiled water for this. Soap and other cosmetics are of no use here. Only if your baby has noticeable skin irritations on his face, treat them as directed by your pediatrician after washing.

The baby's eyes are washed with a damp cotton swab in the direction from the outer corner of the eye to the inner. The nose is cleaned with cotton wool twisted into a thin rope (a cotton swab simply won’t fit in there yet). The baby's ears should only be washed from the outside! Otherwise, you risk damaging your ear canals. Therefore, there is no particular need for special cotton swabs with restrictions - sensible mothers still do not try to get into the ear canal, but only wipe the outside of the ear.

Often, for inexperienced mothers, the area behind the ears “hides surprises.” The fact is that the baby sometimes spits up when feeding, and this milk flows behind the ears. But my mother didn’t even know. Open your ears and see if they are clean. Otherwise, it will be very awkward to appear before the pediatrician at 1 month, when the doctor sees your well-groomed, smart baby has piles of dirt behind the ears.

Video: Caring for a baby in the first days of life

Walking with a child

You need to take your baby for a walk every day, but only if it’s not below -10 degrees outside. Clothes for a newborn should be made only from natural fabrics, comfortable and spacious. The child will need flannelette and cotton undershirts (about 15 pieces), warm flannel, thin cotton and flannelette diapers (about 35 pieces), warm and thin caps, and diapers. You need to dress your baby in layers. For walks in winter you need a special envelope. A stroller for walking should be deep, comfortable, with a moderately hard mattress.

Educational games for 1 month old babies

It would seem, why do children who have just been born need all these games? After all, they are still very tiny and helpless, and they are unlikely to be interested in anything else other than a rattle. Actually this is not true. Games are a must for a newborn. They are the ones who can ensure its comprehensive early development. Moreover, both mental and physical, as well as social.

Mom is the best toy

Yes, yes, the main rule that a mother should take into account when teaching her child in the first month of his life is that the best game for him is herself. And, of course, the closest relatives. Moreover, when playing with the baby, mother and family should behave naturally, trust their instincts and feelings.

Game for developing a child's vision

You must take the child in your arms, hold him close and look him straight in the eyes. The baby will concentrate his attention on you and will look into his mother’s eyes for a long time... Yes, he will then be distracted, but if you continue to look at him, the baby will also return his gaze to you. You can play such “staring games” until the child gets tired.

In addition, you can also use a dim light bulb or night light for the game. Try moving the lamp in different directions in a slightly darkened room within the child's field of vision. The baby will closely monitor the light. This game perfectly helps a child learn to concentrate his attention. You can also cut out different pictures from old magazines depicting smiling bright objects, children, flowers. Place the pictures in the child's field of vision, it is best to attach them to the side of his crib. Move the pictures little by little, and you will see how the baby will follow them with his eyes.

Games for baby development

Touch your child's hands with your fingers. You will see how he will reflexively squeeze your finger, and then grab it. During such activities, constantly talk to your baby or sing funny songs. Remember that this game is aimed at stimulating the baby’s grasping reflex. You can also play bike. Take his feet in your hands and gently rotate them, as if riding a bicycle.

Entertaining games for children

At this age, children love hanging toys. Attach them to the crib and let them slowly spin to melodious and pleasant music. Today there is a huge abundance of such “mobiles” on sale. Take your child for walks around the house regularly. Show and tell everything you see around you. Don't worry about your child not being able to get a good look at everything yet. Such walks are still very important, because they are designed for the future, this is how the baby develops his first visual memory.

How to develop a baby at 1 month

What can be done for the development of a baby who has just been born? To begin with, it is important for the mother to understand what the right start for this development should be. So, for this, it is important to put the baby to the breast early, stay together between mother and baby immediately after birth, and feed “on demand” with breast milk.

Feeding - first development

Breastfeeding is the most natural process in the world. This is pleasant and useful for both mother and child. It is important to breastfeed on demand. This is how you lay the foundation of health for your child. But, in addition, these are also the foundations for the successful development of a child, because if a child is emotionally stable, he is much more ready to perceive information.

Sense organs

An adult perceives the world through the senses. These are vision, touch, smell, hearing, taste. Baby too. The development of a baby at such an early age is also based on the stimulation of these senses. So, 1-month-old babies receive the most information through the sense of touch. Vision and hearing are not yet sufficiently developed. In the first month of life they need stimulation. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to stimulating the development of the sense of touch.

What can you do?

It's simple. Prepare pieces of fabric of different textures. It can be cotton, silk, fur, wool, satin. Let your baby touch these blanks several times a day. Don't forget about tactile contact as well. Mom and dad should stroke the baby more often, kiss it, and place the naked one on their stomach. This is how not only the sense of touch develops, but also the emotional sphere. You can also walk around the apartment with the baby and touch objects with his hand. Tell him what it is, comment on your actions. Don’t think that the little one doesn’t hear or understand anything. This is a very important flow of information. It reaches the baby in the first months of life, and most importantly, it is well deposited at the subconscious level. This way you will help lay a solid foundation for further perception of the world around you. By following these recommendations, you can start already in the first month develop the baby. This period is very important in the development of the child, and these easy exercises are available for the mother. Develop your baby from the cradle!

Some reflexes remain with the child throughout his life: blinking, sneezing, yawning, flinching, etc.

It is by reflexes that neonatologists determine the level of development of the newborn’s nervous system.

Baby development at 1 month

It seems that now the child can only sleep, eat and cry. But that's not true! It is developing at amazing speed. For now he lies with his legs and arms bent, but within the first month they will straighten.

Advice! Place your baby on his tummy more often. In this position, he will try to hold the head and simultaneously train the muscles of the chest and back.

The child's movements become more coordinated, and his vision becomes sharper. Immediately after birth, he sees everything as if through a fog. Gradually learns to focus his gaze. He studies his mother’s face with interest when she bends down or takes him in her arms, and follows with her eyes objects that are no further than 20-35 cm.
A newborn sleeps almost around the clock. His rare waking hours are the most valuable. Use them to communicate with your child. He is an interesting conversationalist. He has a wonderful quality - the ability to listen. The child feels your mood, catches the emotional coloring of your voice, studies the movements of your mother’s lips, looks into your eyes and one day will respond to your kind words with a charming smile!

What a 1 month old baby can do:

Associate mother’s familiar smell with her voice;

Listen to the intonations of people around you;

Hold the head vertically for a few seconds;

While feeding, look at the mother's face;

Distinguish between sweet, bitter and sour tastes;

Grab your mother’s finger and hold it in your fist for quite a long time;

By the end of the first month, he is able to focus his gaze on the face of an adult;

Smile.

Massage for children at 1 month of life

The mental development of newborn children is closely related to the physical. Even if the child just lies and actively moves his arms, this stimulates his nervous system. In the morning and before bathing, be sure to give your child a light massage. Just stroke the arms, legs, back and tummy. Draw a figure eight on the child’s feet: from the toes to the heel. This simple exercise for newborns has a positive effect on all body systems, because all the functional points are located on the foot.

Exercises for 1 month old babies

1. Fetal position

Pull the child's bent legs towards the stomach, fold the arms over the chest. With your right hand, tilt the little one's head slightly forward. In this position, rock the baby in different directions. This exercise is great for calming and relaxing.

2. Handles to the sides

Place your baby on his back. Place your thumbs in his fists. He will hold on to them. Spread your baby's arms slightly to the sides and shake them gently. This exercise will help strengthen your arm muscles.

3. We sit cross-legged

Take the baby in your arms and press his back to your chest. Bend his legs so that he sits cross-legged. Support his feet with one hand and grab his armpits with the other. Exercise will help cope with colic.

Bathing a newborn

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