Congratulations! You and your baby have made it through the first month! So many developmental changes are happening in your newborn, almost on a daily basis. Here’s a look at what a baby typically does at 1 month:

Visual and Hearing Milestones

• Focuses on things 8 to 12 inches away
• Eyes may wander and occasionally cross
• Likes black-and-white or high-contrast patterns, but prefers the human face most of all
• Recognizes some sounds
• May turn toward familiar sounds and voices

Language / Communication Milestones

• Listens when you speak
• Watches you when you hold him or her
• May move body to respond to you or attract your attention

Movement / Physical Milestones

• Thrusts arms in jerky motion
• Brings hands closer to eyes and mouth
• Moves head from side to side when lying on stomach
• Keeps hands in tight fists
• Has strong reflexes, such as sucking when a finger is placed in mouth or squeezing eyes shut in response to bright light

More on 1-month-olds.

Concerned About Your Child’s Development?

All babies are different and develop at their own pace. If your infant has not yet reached some of these milestones, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong.

Still, you know your child best. And developmental delays or disorders are most successfully treated when caught early.

If you have concerns, don’t wait. 

Talk with the healthcare provider if you think your child …

• Is not meeting milestones for his or her age
• Has lost skills he or she once had, or is not doing something you’d expect him or her to be doing

Or if you have concerns about...

• How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts or moves
• Other things your child does

SOURCE: These developmental milestones from the American Academy of Pediatrics provide a general idea of what most babies can do at this age.

See also ... 

•  What your 1-month-old is learning and experiencing

•  Infant vision: Birth to 24 months

•  Looking ahead: Development at 2 months

This message is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Always seek the advice of a physician or qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have about your health or medical condition, your breastfeeding issues and your infant's health. Never disregard, avoid or delay contacting a doctor or other qualified professional because of something you have read in our emails, webpages or other electronic communications.

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