Your 1-Month-Old Baby

Your 1-Month-Old Baby


Month 1

First Year

Banner
Banner
Banner

Your 1-month-old baby is new to the world and is ready to explore. This will be a month full of firsts for your newborn. Read on to learn more about what nutrients you need while breastfeeding.

Nutrients For You When Breastfeeding

Your Nutrition This Month

As breastfeeding mums, your diet and how you nourish your body matter.1 If you are breastfeeding, here are the essential vitamins and minerals you need:

Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is vital for the formation of red blood cells and producing energy. Where to find Vitamin B12? You can find Vitamin B12 in animal produce such as poultry and eggs.

Iron
Your iron levels may drop during breastfeeding. As such, replenishing your iron levels is important to prevent fatigue or an impaired immune system. Where to find Iron? Iron can usually be found in lean red meat and green leafy vegetables.

Calcium
As you might experience transient bone loss while breastfeeding, taking in calcium helps to build and maintain bone health. Where to find Calcium? Common sources of calcium include nuts and dairy foods such as milk and cheese.

Breastmilk Is Best For Your 1-Month-Old Baby

Breastmilk is best for babies. Consult your doctor before deciding to use infant formula or if you have difficulties breastfeeding.

1-Month-Old Baby Development

Your Baby’s Firsts

When your baby sees and hears, he may:

  • Stare at objects, but not reach for them, and see best within 12 inches of his face.
  • Like bold shapes and high-contrast objects.
  • Love looking at faces and your expressions, and may imitate them.
  • React negatively to loud voices or music.
  • Cry, stiffen his body and legs, or thrust his arms outward and pull them back to his chest when startled by a noise.
  • Like sounds that change, such as a voice or music.
  • “Keep time” to your voice with arm and hand motions.

What your baby loves to touch, taste, and smell:

  • The feeling of different textures.
  • The feeling of cuddling with you.
  • They may react to a touch on the lips by smacking their lips and sucking.
  • They can also taste and smell from the time of their birth and have turned their heads away from strong odours.

Sensory Motor Development

In a world full of sights and sounds, his five senses are being bombarded. He uses that information to communicate with you.

Intellectual and Social Development

Spending time with your baby at this age is important. How you respond to his cries, satisfy his needs, and show him love will determine how he sees the world later.

Reflexes

His early reflexes are very basic and his startle reaction to sudden noises is just one of these.

Other reflexes include:

  • The grasp reflex that lets your baby grip his rattle, only to immediately drop it because he can’t hold on.
  • The rooting reflex that helps your baby open his mouth and find the nipple for feeding.
  • Yawning to increase the air in his lungs.
  • Pulling back if he is hurt and sneezing to clear his nose.
  • Turning his head to one side if his breathing is blocked.

Sleep Schedule During This Month

Coping with your 1-month-old’s unpredictable sleep patterns can be a challenge.

Often sleeping 16 to 18 hours a day, your baby will probably sleep for two to three hours, wake up, eat, and go to sleep again.

At about 6 weeks old, his sleep and wake pattern will begin to become established, and by 16 weeks, he may have settled into a regular schedule. So there is a routine in the not-too-distant future.

Vaccinations During This Month

Regular vaccinations are still the only way to protect your baby—now and for years to come—so be sure to get your baby immunised to help keep him healthy.

For more information on National Childhood Immunisation Schedule, click here.

References:
¹ Diet for Breastfeeding Mothers, Abbott Family. Available at https://abbottfamily.com.sg/articles/nutrition/diet-for-breastfeeding-mothers

SG.2022.27106.PND.1 (v1.1)

Explore Your Child’s Development