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Your 1-Month-Old Baby...

Starting To Wake Up

Learn about your 1 month old baby's milestones, development, what games to play and what toys might be fun.

1-month-old...

1-month-old baby

Still a brand new little person, but now getting into the habit of living outside the womb.

Maybe your baby has started to be awake a bit more, many do "wake up" at around 1 month. However one of my children slept almost all day long until he was 2.5 months old.

Babies are different. And his mom was quite sleepy too... ;-)

Development is in any case going fast. Compared to the newborn baby, a 1-month-old's vision is already much improved, although far from perfect yet.

Want to know about your new little family member? Read on!

Baby milestones

Things happen so fast!

1-month-old, your baby's vision is improving and looking at black and white patterns is of great interest.

While he still has practically no control over his limbs, your baby will discover his hands and watch them with great fascination. No idea yet, that they are his own.

Progressing through his second month of living, the newborn will start stretching and relaxing his muscles as he slowly gains some control over his body.

At around six weeks, your baby might start to unfold his hands from time to time. At this point try putting a rattle in his hand, for his amusement. A soft and light one, though!

If put down on his belly, he will be able to lift and hold his head up for a little while. But it is still really hard work!

If not earlier, you are very likely to start getting a social smile from your baby every now and then. Also, at around one month of living, your baby will start making small sounds, especially if you talk to him and then wait for him to respond.

Trust is being built between you and your baby, and each time you feed him, change diapers, cuddle him and so on he will become more and more certain that your are there for him always.

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Games to play

1-month-old, it is good to start placing your baby on his tummy to help him strengthen his neck muscles.

Chances are, though, that he will think that this is a lousy idea! It is hard work for your baby to lift his head up, so place him on his tummy only for short periods if he doesn't like it.

One of my kids went from crying furiously to gazing around when I put her upper body on a small pillow instead of right on the floor. With this little help, she was able to look up better and enjoyed being put down on her stomach much more.

Just don't let your baby sleep on his tummy for the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). You might want to see if your baby enjoys a finger rhyme (using his fingers), making him enjoy his newly discovered hands even more.

To help your baby becoming aware of his body, play with him while changing diapers. Poke his different body parts lightly while making a funny noice and looking into his eyes.

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Toy tips

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The 1-month-old baby still doesn't have a great need any toys. As he starting to discover his hands, however, some fun baby bracelets and rattles can be among your baby's first toys.

More than rhyming, talking and singing, a baby mobile will also become even more interesting. If you haven't yet bought or borrowed one, do it now!

A baby play mat can also be a good investment, if not now then soon. It is not a necessity, but might make your baby a bit more positive to tummy time.

Nice (still mainly black and white) toys to look at in the stroller are also fun.

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