Especially people who are becoming parents for the first time may start to worry when they see that their baby does not have skin as smooth and silky as expected, but this is a completely normal condition. When most babies are born, they may have physical features such as small acne-like bumps on their face, redness, and a flattened nose. Swelling in the genital area also occurs regardless of whether the baby is a girl or a boy.
Especially people who are becoming parents for the first time may feel anxious when they see that their baby does not have skin as smooth and silky as expected, but this is a completely normal condition. When most babies are born, they may have physical features such as small acne-like bumps, redness on their face, and a flattened nose. Swelling in the genital area can also be seen after birth, regardless of whether the baby is a girl or a boy. The baby, who is in a long period of development mentally, physically, emotionally and socially, experiences much development in this first month. The baby, who begins to see objects at close range gradually, has a sensitive sense of hearing. The senses of smell, taste and touch continue to develop. You can continue reading our article to have detailed information about the development of a 1-month-old baby.
1-Month-Old Baby Development
After the exciting waiting that lasts for months, parents, when they hold their baby in their arms for the first time, realize how light, delicate and in need of care the baby is. The baby's sense of sight is still at a basic level; although their eyes can see light and moving objects, the viewing distance is quite limited. Due to a viewing distance of 15 to 30 cm, they mostly look with empty eyes. In this period, it is easier for them to perceive contrasting colors. Although they cannot yet see long distances, their sense of hearing has developed. The baby, even while in the mother's womb, can perceive the voices of their parents who often spoke with them. However, they cannot yet understand from which direction the sound comes, and they prefer their familiar human voices over other sounds. They often use the sucking reflex they gained while in the mother's womb when hungry. During the periods when they are looking for the breast, it can be observed that when the mother places her hand on the baby's cheek, the baby turns its head quickly towards that direction. The sense of touch has developed. For this reason, being touched and petted allows the baby to feel safe. Although there is still a long time before walking, the baby already has stepping reflexes. The baby can be seen kicking its feet when lifted by holding under the armpits. The baby also actively uses the grasping and grabbing reflex it gained while in the mother's womb. When a finger is brought near the baby's hand, it can be seen that it holds it very tightly. During 1-month-old baby development, the baby sleeps in intervals for about 17 to 20 hours. As days pass, the time they stay awake gradually increases. In the early times, the baby can wake itself up with involuntary reflex movements. To prevent this, you can wrap your baby without squeezing too much, allowing it to sleep comfortably and feel safe. The baby, who senses temperature changes and does not like them, has also developed its sense of smell. The mother's scent gives them confidence. It is extremely important to support the baby's head, who cannot yet control their head. The baby, who frequently sneezes, can also sneez occasionally.
1-Month-Old Baby Development Chart
Baby development chart is a tool used to evaluate the development of babies and check their general health. Thanks to this chart, the physician controls the baby's head circumference, weight, height and weight according to height compared to other babies of the same age and gender. The 1-month-old baby development chart is prepared separately for girls and boys. According to this chart, the length of a 1-month-old girl should be between a minimum of 50 cm and a maximum of 59 cm, and her weight is expected to be between 2950 g and 5400 g. For 1-month-old boys, their height should be between 51 and 60 cm, and their weight should be between 3000 g and 5750 g. Some development charts also contain criteria such as what the baby can do, what is expected of it, and what it cannot do. Accordingly, the development values of a 1-month-old baby can be listed as follows:
- Can Do: When placed on its stomach, it lifts its head, looks at the person's face, responds to sounds, and sees black and white colors.
- Expected to Do: Tracking objects with their eyes and showing that they are entertained are actions that approximately half of 1-month-old babies can do.
- Cannot Do: Very few babies can perform the actions listed in this section. These actions include smiling, laughing, and being able to hold the head lifted at a 45-degree angle for a short time while lying on the stomach.
How Does the Mental Development of a 1-Month-Old Baby Go?
When a baby is born, although it has nearly completed its cellular development in the brain, it has not yet started to form the connections defined as synapses. In the first month, it begins to form synapses and develop skills that will become even stronger in the future. Although it does not yet speak, its communication skill develops rapidly during this period. In the 1st month, communication mostly happens through crying. Through this method, a baby can easily indicate to its parent that it is hungry, cold, hot, has a wet diaper, has gas, is bored, or is in pain. It is thought that frequently talking to a baby is an effective method for developing its language skills. For this reason, parents are advised to talk to their baby often, read books to it, and sing songs. In the period close to the end of the 1st month, the baby may carefully look at the face of its parent who is at close range and examine it for a long time.
Social Development and Skills of a 1-Month-Old Baby
Although the first month is still too early for social skills to form, during this period the first and basic steps of socialization are taken. The baby, who starts to form a bond with its parents, gradually realizes that it is being cared for. For this reason, starting from the first month, it is important to communicate frequently and establish physical contact with it. Being petted, hearing soft and familiar voices makes it happy. The parent approaching the baby calms it down. Although the baby does not yet smile to socialize or express emotions, responding to its smile in the same way is beneficial for the development of its social skills.
What Can a 1-Month-Old Baby Do?
The baby, who is developing rapidly, when it completes its first month, can turn its head to the right and left, and when placed on its stomach, can lift its head for a short time. A 1-month-old baby, who moves its arms and legs while lying on its back, holds a finger tightly when the palms are touched. It can see objects at a distance of 15 to 30 cm and can perceive moving objects with high contrast located far away. Although not social, it smiles, recognizes its parent's scent and voice. By focusing on the face nearby, it can examine it for a long time.
When Is the Health Check of a 1-Month-Old Baby Done?
When a baby's first health checks are done, they are carried out right after birth. Unless the doctor specifies otherwise, the first health check is done before the first month is complete. During the health check, parameters such as the baby's height, weight, and head circumference are measured. During the visit where the umbilical cord and its hole are checked, if the hepatitis vaccine has not yet been given, it is also administered. During the health check, the doctor asks parents many questions to evaluate the baby's development process, such as how long the baby slept, whether it nursed, and whether it responds to auditory and visual stimuli. During this time, families raising their first child especially hear different advice from almost everyone. Some of these may be correct, but some may contain false information. When there is anything that concerns the parents, they are expected to ask these questions to the doctor. When necessary, the doctor also informs the family in detail about matters such as how to calm the baby, how much to feed it, and how often its cleanliness should be done.
If you also have questions you want to ask the doctor about your 1-month-old baby, you can apply to your nearest healthcare facility. We wish you healthy and happy days.
Medical Information and Disclaimer
This content has been prepared in accordance with the current scientific literature and generally accepted medical knowledge at the time of its preparation, with the aim of informing the public on health matters. The information contained within is for general informational purposes and does not substitute for diagnosis, treatment, prescription, or personalized medical advice.
This content has been prepared in accordance with the current scientific literature and generally accepted medical knowledge at the time of its preparation, with the aim of informing the public on health matters. The information contained within is for general informational purposes and does not substitute for diagnosis, treatment, prescription, or personalized medical advice.
Since each individual's health status and treatment requirements are different, diagnosis and treatment decisions must be made by a physician as a result of the person's clinical evaluation, examination, and necessary tests. Since scientific knowledge and medical practices may change over time, the information included in the content can be updated. In addition, some medical branches, tests, and treatment facilities discussed in our health guide may not be included in the current service scope or staff of our hospital.
If you have any complaints or concerns regarding your health, you can schedule an appointment with our physicians in line with the medical branches and services offered by our hospital, or consult your nearest healthcare institution.
