1 Month
Your baby can see things close up and only in black and white
What should you expect during the first month?
It’s been one whole month since you welcomed your baby into the world. By this point you have been adjusting to life with a newborn, doing your best to find a decent schedule, and soaking up all the delicious baby smells and cuddles!
During this time, your little one is also adjusting to life outside of your womb. They are figuring out how to sleep, eat, and going to the bathroom regularly.
However, as their first month of life comes to and end, you may be noticing a few changes. If you’re lucky they may be getting acquainted with a schedule and also staying alert and more engaged!
Your camera roll is likely already loaded with photos of your little one but now you may be catching a few of their first facial expressions! Many of those expressions may be triggered by the sight of you or by the sound of your voice. And you’re actually helping your child’s brain development when you do talk, sing, read, and play with them; so keep doing that!
It’s averaged that most babies gain at least 2 months during their first month of life and measure roughly 21 to 21.5 inches in length. Although milestones are important, every child is different, and milestones can be met at any moment. However, if you do have concerns about your child’s development, reach out to their pediatrician.
During the first month, your child will likely:
Feeding and sleeping
While many parents choose to feed on demand, feedings usually occur every 2 to 3 hours if you are breastfeeding and four ounces, every 3 to 4 hours if you are formula feeding.
It’s documented that if you’re bottle-feeding and your baby doesn’t finish their bottle, there is a window of time they can drink from that same bottle again. If breast milk is in the bottle, they can still drink from it again within two hours. Formula only has a one hour shelf life.
According to Babycenter, if your baby is sleeping for long stretches during the night, it’s usually not crucial for you to wake your baby up to eat. However, discuss that with your doctor first!
Speaking of sleep, did you know a one-month-old will sleep anywhere between 14 to 17 hours a day! However, it is likely your little one won’t have a normal sleep schedule until they’re about 3 months old.
Babycenter suggests that even though a sleep schedule may not exist for a few months, by starting a consistent bedtime routine, it could help teach your baby when it’s bedtime.
Doctor’s visits
Your baby will get a 1-month and 2-month checkup! After that, they’ll visit the doctor every two months for their first year of life. When it comes to vaccines, your baby will receive their first dose of the HepB vaccine within 12 to 24 hours of their birth, KidsHealth reports.
During their 1 or 2-month doctor visits, they will receive the second dose of HepB. Also, during their two-month doctor visit, they will receive a dose of:
