For You and Your Baby
Their 1st Month
What to expect during your baby's first month of life and what you can do to support them
The Six Stages of Alertness
1. Deep Sleep
Lies quite without moving
Deep breathing
Eyes firmly closed
2. Active (light) sleep
Moves while sleeping
Startles at noise
May have small twitches or facial movements
3. Drowsy State
Eyes may open and close, but remain glazed
Breathing is regular, but quicker then when in sleep
4. Awake, Alert State
Body and face are relatively quiet
Respond to sight and sounds
State where they are most ready to play
5. Alert But Fussy State
Transitional state to crying
May be soothes by attractive stimuli
Movements may be jerky and baby appears fussy
6. Crying
Actively crying
May scream
Usually trying to communicate a need such as hunger, boredom or discomfot
Developmental Milestones
Size & Movement
Your baby will be gaining about 5-7 oz a week
-This could vary depending on your child, consult with your pediatrician if you do not think they are gaining a healthy amount of weight
They will begin lifting their head for a short time when doing tummy time
They may bring their fingers to their mouth to suck on
They might keep their hands in fists most of the time
Jerky or unstable movements are still expected
Developmental Milestones
The Five Senses
Hearing is fully developed! They will turn head towards sounds around them and they will love hearing your voice
They can see about 8-12 inches from their face, they will track movements and your face
Their sence of smell is developing, you might notice they prefer sweet smells
-Try eating a variety of nutritious foods if you are breastfeeding because your baby will be able to taste different things!
You might notice your baby cooing by the end of this first month
What can you do to support your baby?
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Baby will love to look at your face! Also, try using mobiles or other moving objects to encourage eye-tracking (avoid screens). Baby will enjoy black and white patterns!
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Baby will love listening to your voice! Try narrating what you are doing or singing to them.
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Skin-to-skin contact is promoted! Spend lots of time cuddling with baby - you can not spoil them.
Warning Signs To Watch For
The following signs might indicate a developmental delay...
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Has a poor suck or feeds slowly
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Does not blink when looking at a bright light
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Does not respond or seem to hear loud sounds
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Does not focus on and track a nearby object moving side to side
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Legs or arms seem excessively loose or floppy
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Does not move arms and legs often; seems very stiff
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Lower jaw tremble consitently, even when not crying or excited
It is important to remember every baby develops at their own rate. But if you are worried about something, do not be afraid to consult with your pediatrician!