Your 1 month old baby

Your baby's senses at one month old

Hearing

Having done a lot of development in the womb, your baby's hearing is very sensitive and it's fully developed now. They will begin to turn their head towards the source of a sound. Watch their response when you clap your hands from across the room or shake a rattle - they may blink or jump slightly.

You might want to try singing some nursery rhymes or softly playing some music to your baby. You'll likely find your little one reacting differently to different sounds and types of music, an early indicator of their music tastes perhaps!

Sight

A newborn baby's vision is very fuzzy, but within one month they are able to focus a bit better. They still can't see far - around 30cm - so when you smile at your baby, lean in close.

They are also beginning to track a moving object by moving their head and eyes but when the object disappears they forget it ever existed. Don't worry if they look slightly cross-eyed occasionally - it takes a lot of effort to focus. Many toys for this age are black and white: it's not that they can't see colour but they find the high contrast easier to pick out.

Your baby's motor skills at one month old

Movement and awareness

When babies are born they have no sense that they even are a separate person from you, but at one month old they may discover their legs and arms - even if that's by accidentally hitting themselves. It will be another month or two before they get any co-ordination, though.

Head control

Their neck muscles are still weak, although you may notice your baby is able to hold their head up briefly when they are lying on their tummy or being held by you. They may also be able to turn it side to side.

How to help your baby develop in the first month

• Keep up an animated conversation with your baby and maintain lots of eye contact - it seems daft as they clearly can't understand you, but the sound of your voice will soothe them and kick-start their language skills
• Choose a bright and noisy toy like a rattle (make it a lightweight one) and move it across their line of vision so they can follow it with their eyes
• A mobile hanging above your baby's cot is a good idea as it helps their tracking skills and focus. It doesn't have to be an expensive all-singing, all-dancing one - they will love even homemade cardboard shapes hanging above them, especially if they are shiny and/or high contrast

10-14 day new birth visit

Health visitors offer every family a new birth visit appointment. This is usually between 10-14 days after your baby is born and may be offered to you at home or at a local health-clinic and usually after your midwife has handed over your care to your local health visiting team. 

They can give you advice on:

• safe sleeping
• vaccinations
• feeding your baby (breastfeeding and bottle feeding)
• caring for your baby
• your baby's development
• your emotional wellbeing and emotional wellbeing tips for mothers
• fathers: Getting involved with looking after baby and emotional wellbeing tips for fathers

They're all different

A small note on developmental milestones: it's really true - all babies are different and although we can encourage them, they will do things at their own pace and in their own time.

Game of the month

The mirror game: hold your baby in front of a big mirror and pull faces and make noises. Watch how they react - they may even try to copy you.