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The birth of a child what you need to know. Sterile cleanliness around the newborn is unnecessary. - a frequent companion of motherhood

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Before characterizing the main features of a newborn baby, let's define the terminology. Newborns are considered to be children under one month old.

What you need to know about newborns?

Being born, the baby is forced to learn not only to breathe and eat, but also to regulate heat exchange, to protect the body from viruses and infections, to distinguish between the time of sleep and wakefulness. Children learn to do all this in the first days of their life, as a result of which they experience active changes in the body.

Outside the cozy walls of the uterus, the baby needs to be taught to live, grow and develop, therefore, from the moment of birth, all organs and life support systems of the crumbs are included in the work, reflexes are improved. The baby's lungs begin to breathe, the blood circulation process is improving, the gastrointestinal tract makes the first attempts to digest the incoming colostrum. The body of the crumbs is already able to regulate the body temperature, depending on the air temperature.

At first glance, a fragile and defenseless baby is actually distinguished by increased adaptive abilities. Even in the most difficult conditions, his body will adjust the life support systems in such a way as to survive.

It should be understood that full-term and premature babies develop on different schedules. Let's talk about the differences in the development process of both.

The main characteristics of a full-term baby

A full-term baby is considered to be born at 38-40 weeks. The normal weight for a full-term baby is 2.5 to 4 kg. As a rule, boys are born several larger than girls. Infants weighing more than 4 kg can lead to a number of difficulties during childbirth.

In the first days after birth, the initial weight of the baby decreases by an average of 250-300 g. The child loses weight due to the loss of glucose and water. The losses will be replenished in the next few weeks. The norm is the weight gain of a newborn in the first month of life up to 600 g. In practice, it happens that, being breastfed on demand, the baby gains 2 times more.

The growth of a full-term newborn baby ranges from 48-53 cm, and in girls, the body length is usually less than that of boys, by several centimeters.

A healthy, timely born baby has smooth, delicate skin of a slightly pinkish tint. The abundance of sebaceous glands makes it especially elastic, does not allow drying out. The peculiarity of the skin of a newborn is the release of lysozyme, a protective substance that prevents it from becoming infected with microbes. In order for the protective substances to be released in the right amount, the baby's skin must be kept clean.

As soon as the baby is born, he announces this significant event with a shrill cry. Baby already
in the first minutes after birth, it is characterized by increased motor activity. The main reflexes at this moment are also normal. If you put the baby to the breast of the mother, he will begin to suck and swallow.

In newborns, the body temperature is slightly increased compared to an adult and reaches 37 and a half degrees. In the early days, slight jumps in temperature can be observed, which is primarily due to the adaptation of the crumbs' body to new living conditions.

Another feature of the newborn is the delicate tissue between the bones of the skull on the head, popularly called “fontanelles”. As the crumbs grow older, they will close due to the compaction of bone tissue.

Features of the baby's senses

In the first weeks after birth, the sensory organs of the newborn, although developed, are imperfect. Crumb
able to distinguish tastes, rejoices when he gets the opportunity to taste something other than milk, for example, sweet drops or a decoction of dill seeds for colic. Against bitter or sour mixtures, the baby will desperately protest, turning his head away.

A newborn's sense of smell is also imperfect, but it already has its own characteristics. The baby is especially sensitive to odors that can irritate his nasal mucosa. It would be better for mothers to refrain from treating their breasts with medicinal ointments with strong odors.

The touch of the baby is also quite developed. The baby reacts positively to the mother's touch, falls asleep and calms down, feeling the warmth of her hands.

But the baby's vision in the first weeks of life is still far from ideal. The baby sees objects with blurred outlines and only at a distance of at least 35-40 cm. The eyeballs are uncoordinated, which leads to the manifestation of signs of strabismus, which usually disappear by three months. The absence of the blinking reflex is noted when the object is located as close as possible near the eyes.

The baby hears at about the same level as he sees. He has a reaction to loud sounds, in addition, the baby positively perceives the sounds of the mother's voice.

How do the excretory organs work in newborns?

The main organs of excretion begin to work as soon as the baby is born. Already on the first day, the bladder is actively functioning, which is manifested enough frequent urination (about 5-6 times a day). By the end of the first week, when the baby begins to receive food, this number will double.

As for the feces of a different nature, in the first few days, the excreted feces are primordial meconium, formed in the body of the baby in the womb, mostly from the swallowed amniotic fluid. As soon as the stomach of the crumbs begins to process colostrum, and then breast milk, the place of meconium will replace the normal feces of a mushy consistency. The baby's intestines are emptied not much less often than the bladder - up to 5 times a day.

The better and more stable the baby's intestines are, the faster they will be able to adapt to life outside the womb.

In healthy full-term babies, the immune system is as well developed as it is in the mother. That is why it is so important that the pregnant woman, throughout the entire period of bearing the baby, adheres to the diet, sleep, walks, and takes vitamin complexes for expectant mothers.

Features of a premature baby

Children who were born before the 38th week are considered to be premature. The degree of prematurity can be different and depend on the timing of delivery. These newborns weigh less than the norm: as a rule, up to 2 kg with a body length of up to 45 cm. Naturally, premature babies have their own characteristics compared to babies who were born on time.

One of the main features - this is the minimum amount or, in severe cases, the complete absence of subcutaneous fat. Such babies, as a rule, are not proportional enough, with a head over the norm, thin sedentary limbs and a large navel displaced to the bottom.

The ears of babies are pressed to the head and more delicate than the ears of a full-term baby, the nails are underdeveloped, the skin is too thin, covered with a network of wrinkles. The entire surface of the body of premature newborns is covered with a layer of thin fluff, in addition, the genitals are not fully developed in children: in boys, these are not descended testicles, in girls, a covered genital slit. The pupils can often be covered with a white film. Naturally, the brightness of the expression of the marked signs will depend on the degree of prematurity of the baby.

Internal organs and main body systems of a premature baby

Outward signs of underdevelopment are just the tip of the iceberg. The main problems relate to the internal life support systems and organs, which by the time a newborn is born do not have time to go through the main stages of intrauterine development. Usually babies have problems with the functioning of the respiratory system and the central nervous system, and most of the internal organs are characterized by a state of general immaturity.

As a rule, premature babies are distinguished by:

  • lethargy;
  • increased fatigue;
  • quiet crying;
  • prolonged sleep;
  • shallow rapid breathing;
  • drops in body temperature.

Usually, such children do not eat well, often have problems with sucking and swallowing, and are susceptible to diseases due to imperfect protective properties of the body.

What you need to know about the basic physiological conditions of newborns?

A newborn child develops in accordance with the basic norms laid down by nature, and the manifestation of certain physiological conditions is inevitable for him. The more parents know about these
states and their manifestations, the more calmly they will react to them.

It should be understood that the physiological conditions of newborns mostly pass during the first few months and only in some cases can it worsen, turning into a disease with a deterioration in the baby's health. In order to react in time to the first signs of such failures, it is necessary to understand the essence of these patterns.

Let's consider the main ones.

Jaundice of newborns

Jaundice in the vast majority of newborns appears in the middle of the first week of life. First, it becomes noticeable on the face of the crumbs, after which it moves to the body and limbs. A striking sign of jaundice is the characteristic yellow color of the mucous eyes.

The main reason is insufficient activity of enzyme
liver systems that cannot cope with the rapidly increasing bilirubin. If the development of the newborn is not complicated by diseases and infections, then by the middle of the first month the jaundice usually goes away without special treatment.

If the jaundice does not go away for several months (this is usually associated with difficult childbirth, trauma to the newborn during childbirth), the doctor prescribes optimal treatment to exclude the aggravation of the problem.

Sexual crisis: what you need to know?

The first sign of a sexual crisis in newborns is an increase in the size of the mammary glands, both in boys and girls. The main reason is the transition of hormonal compounds into the newborn's body from
mother. Along with the swelling of the glands in girls during the period of sexual crisis, minor spotting may appear, in boys - swelling of the genitals.

During a sexual crisis, the general condition of the baby does not change and in most cases its manifestations pass without the intervention of doctors until the end of the first week of the baby's life.

Sweat and sebaceous glands: signs of blockage

In the first weeks of a baby's life, blockage of sweat and sebaceous glands is not uncommon. A sign of a blockage is points on the baby's face with a characteristic white or yellowish color. They do not need to be specially treated - it will be enough to intensify the care of the baby's skin and wait a few days until the situation changes for the better.

Features of the newborn's day regimen

Healthy baby in the first few weeks after birth
devotes all the time to strengthening the strength for development and growth - sleep and nutrition.

Before going to bed, the baby must be bathed in water at the optimum temperature for him - 37-38 degrees.

If nothing bothers the baby, then his sleep will be long and calm. Newborns usually wake up for several reasons:

  • hunger;
  • pain;
  • violation of the temperature regime;
  • dirty diaper;
  • general discomfort.

In some cases, the child can wake himself up with pens if he is not swaddled. Newborns wake up about every 2 hours to receive their next milk supply, no matter whether it is day or night.

It is believed that in the first month of life it makes no sense to try to accustom the baby to a certain daily routine. Over time, this will really become possible, but at the initial stage it will be right to feed the baby on demand, adjusting to his schedule.

Starting from the third week, outdoor walks should become mandatory in the newborn's day regimen. In the early days, you can walk for no more than 15-20 minutes, gradually increasing the time. By the end of the first month of the baby's life, it will be possible to walk with him twice a day - in the morning and in the evening - for at least an hour.

Maria Sokolova


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Children are flowers of life. Therefore, the birth of a child is a very important event for every woman. But, like everything in our life, motherhood has two sides of the coin. The first is an incredibly wonderful feeling of happiness and love for your baby, and the second is the difficulties and problems that young mothers face in the first year of life.

It is about these difficulties that we will tell you today.

  1. Malaise, weakness, fatigue of a young mother

    The first few months after giving birth, not only the baby needs care, but also the young mother. Relatives and friends must understand this. Their main task is to help a young mother both emotionally and physically. After all, even one lack of sleep is enough to feel very tired. But besides taking care of the baby, the young mother also has other household chores on her shoulders, such as washing, cooking, etc. All young mothers face this difficulty. There is no escaping it, but its impact on your life can be significantly reduced. To do this, you just need to correctly determine what is desired and necessary. For example, there is absolutely no need to iron on both sides. Nothing will happen to your baby if he sleeps on a diaper ironed on only one side. Also, one should not neglect the achievements of civilization. A variety of sanitary napkins, ready-made cereals and juices can make your life much easier. And then you will definitely have free time to relax.

  2. - a frequent companion of motherhood

    After giving birth, a young woman may experience feelings hitherto unknown to her. Because of this, her state of mind is not very stable. Psychological trauma or prolonged emotional stress can cause depression. It seems to a woman that in the future she will no longer have absolutely any joys, and only bad thoughts are spinning in her head. A woman loses interest in everything and her ability to work is greatly reduced. If you have these feelings, be sure to seek the help of a specialist.

  3. The monotony of a young mother's life

    This problem arises in those women who, before giving birth, led an active lifestyle, tried to realize themselves professionally. Unfortunately, in the first year of a baby's life, you will have to forget about it. But this does not mean that your horizons should be limited to "kitchen-children's-park". Agree with grandmothers that they would devote at least 4 hours a week to their grandson. You can devote the free time to yourself: go to the cinema with your husband, sit with friends in a cafe, visit a beauty salon, a fitness center, etc.

  4. Fear for the child, anxiety and self-doubt

    In the first year of a baby's life, young mothers have a lot of questions that worry and raise doubts. Swaddle or not? How to feed? How to bathe? And then the baby is crying. What happened? Maybe something hurts him? What if something threatens the child's health? Feeling insecure and still being a good mom can be tricky.

  5. A young mother's feeling of guilt in front of her child

    For a young mother, almost the whole world is concentrated around her baby. Therefore, going somewhere without a child, women begin to torment themselves with worries. This cannot be done. After all, even the most loving people, being around all the time, will not be able to keep their feelings for a long time. Therefore, do not neglect the opportunity to go to rest. Moreover, after returning home, you will feel even greater joy when meeting your baby. Also, a woman can be tormented by a feeling of guilt if her child is sick, and she does something wrong. You don't have to take everything to heart. Remember that everyone has the right to make mistakes.

  6. Hyper-care, exhausting young mother

    Many women take motherhood too seriously, so they see in it only duties, which are becoming more and more every day. And this can cause constant fatigue, and even depression. Do not forget that a child is a great joy, and you should enjoy every communication with him. Also, do not forget to find time for yourself. Then you will succeed.

  7. Relationship with husband fades into the background

    Quite often, in the first year of motherhood, the relationship between spouses deteriorates greatly. This applies not only to communication and mutual understanding, but also to the distribution of responsibilities, intimate life. This problem arises because a woman is more anxious about motherhood than a man about fatherhood. For a young mother, her child is in the first place, and she begins to perceive her husband more as a father than as a lover. And the man wants, as before, to be a full-fledged lover of his wife.

  8. Relationships with relatives suffer from the employment of a young mother

    A young mother may have problems with grandparents. After all, they, as more experienced parents, are constantly trying to impose their own opinion on you. Conflict with elders is by no means necessary. Remember that when you ask for advice, you always have the right to use it or not.

  9. Breastfeeding - cracks, pain in the mammary glands

    Every second mother who breastfeeds her baby is faced with some kind of breast problems. In the first days after childbirth, cracks may appear on the nipples, due to which such a pleasant moment as feeding turns into a real torture for the mother. Whatever this happens, you need to immediately. After each feeding, wash the breast with calendula solution, and lubricate the nipples with baby cream or special ointment to soften the delicate skin.
    Also, pain may appear in the mammary glands, which will intensify with each feeding. This means that stagnation has arisen in the ducts, which makes it difficult for milk to exit. In such cases, it is necessary to massage the breast and apply the baby to it in different positions so that it sucks milk from each lobe of the breast evenly.

  10. A young mother often gains excess weight.

    The problem of excess weight worries so many young mothers. In order to restore her figure after childbirth, a woman needs to constantly work on herself. To do this, you need to correctly form your diet and draw up a training schedule. In order to keep the body in good shape, physical education must be done daily. And although a young mother does not have much free time, remember that you are not only a mother, but also a woman, so you should always have a great look.

Of course, you will hardly be able to avoid all these troubles. However, their consequences can be significantly reduced. To do this, you just need to understand that motherhood, like everything else in life, needs to be learned, and in the first year this happens especially intensively.

Of course, during pregnancy, you imagined your motherhood somehow.

But, as soon as the baby was born, it turned out that your ideas and dreams have almost nothing to do with reality. Everything is somewhat different.

Today we invite you to talk about what life is like with a baby, what else will you have to face, what should you prepare for and what should you take into account?

Life with a baby: important points

Anything can happen, anytime

This is what every mother should always remember.

1. It is necessary to understand and calmly relate to the fact that your baby may get sick: he may get up, have diarrhea, and so on, the baby may bump, scratch, especially when it starts to crawl and take the first steps. The mother should be ready for all such situations, first of all, morally, so that she does not get confused and does not start to get very nervous, but quickly helps the baby.

2. Also, the mother should do everything to prevent dangerous situations and quickly provide assistance. This will require secure the house and put together a good ... In the house, remove all piercing and cutting objects from the floor, if possible, hide tees, sockets, wires, remove dishes, flowers, detergents and cosmetics, as well as important documents from the child's reach.

3. Collect a first aid kit : buy remedies for fever, diarrhea and intestinal infections, for colic, constipation, scratches, abrasions, allergies, runny nose, cough, do not forget about a thermometer, aspirator, gas tube, cotton wool, bandage, brilliant green, plaster and so on. The first aid kit needs to be carefully thought out and replenished as the baby grows up.

4. In addition, every mother should remember that in any emergency situation in which she does not know how to help, it is necessary see a doctor or an ambulance .

The baby understands a lot

When your baby is just born, he sleeps almost all the time, so it seems to you that he does not understand anything at all. This is not entirely true. Up to 4-5 months the kid really understands little, but he feels everything perfectly, remarkably distinguishes intonation and mood. Be sure to keep this in mind when communicating with your child.

The child feels your mood

If you are positive, active and cheerful, so will your baby. And if you are annoyed, scared, tired, your baby will also be more capricious, screaming and upset.

Try to be in a good mood, it is clear that a lot has changed in your life after the birth of the baby, it may be hard for you, but the greatest joy is happy and healthy babies! Hold on and be optimistic!

Favorite doctor

Many mothers love make problems out of nothing. For example, they do not sleep at night, harass all loved ones because they cannot decide why start off , in the water of what temperature to bathe the child, whether to give him some water what powder is better to wash baby clothes and so on.

Wait, stop being nervous, calm down, understand, your relatives also do not know how and what to do, what can they advise you? What to do, you ask? In fact, everything is very simple, need to go to the doctor ... Yes Yes! It is worth going to him or calling him if you have questions about caring for your child, and not only in those cases when he is sick. This is quite logical, because proper care is the prevention of many diseases.

Therefore, we recommend that you do not create unnecessary problems and a tense situation at home due to powder or complementary foods, go to your doctor for a consultation. If necessary, go or call several specialists to find out different opinions and draw the right conclusions. In order not to forget to ask the doctor, write down all your questions in a notebook before your visit. A doctor can help you find answers to many questions.

At first, you may not feel love for the child.

Many mothers say that in the first months of motherhood did not feel love for the baby and were very angry with themselves for this. If this happens to you, you shouldn't scold yourself, it's not about you and not that you are so callous and heartless, everything has its time.

In the first months after childbirth your body is under stress, it is trying to recover from it, and then there is anxiety and constant lack of sleep, which is why you do not feel love, you just feel a shock.

Calm down, take care of the child, do what is necessary, now look, in a few months an all-encompassing heart will come to your heart. feeling of maternal love !

The baby needs a mom

If you suddenly need leave home for a while , leaving the crumb for dad or grandmother, prepare relatives for the fact that the child can be capricious in your absence. Children are often capricious in the absence of their mother, this is quite natural for babies, because they are not yet accustomed to being without mother's warmth and smell, they still remember the times when they were one organism with their mother. Therefore, in the first 6 months, try not to leave the house for more than 3 hours so that the baby does not get upset, and then gradually teach the child to be absent, leaving at least once a week for several hours.

Your life will change

It's also worth getting used to. It would seem that the baby has just been born, a month has passed, it seems that you have already perfectly adapted to everything, now everything will go smoothly. But, it was not so, the baby grows very quickly, a little more, he will start to sit, sleep less, learn to crawl and get up in the crib, and then walk.

Each new ability of the crumbs to make adjustments to the schedule of your life. Take it easy, be flexible, this is the lot of every parent.

The first month of a baby's life is a period of adaptation for both him and the baby's parents. How to care for a baby in the first month of life, what young parents need to know about the temperature regime, feeding, clothes and toys of the baby - this and other information is set out in the article.

Long months of pregnancy and painful childbirth are left behind, and in return comes a life full of discoveries and experiences, because now a little man has settled in your house, to whose rhythms and regime the whole family adjusts.

The first month of a child's life is the time when the child first comes into contact with an unknown and alien environment, therefore, the mother must provide the baby with absolute comfort, show the most tender care and responsibility, and, having adapted, the child will thank you with rapid development and the desire to know the world that you gave him ...

Behavior of a baby in the first month of life

A newborn in the first month spends most of the time in a dream. This is a physiological state that a baby needs to restructure organs and systems, adapt them to new intrauterine conditions of life. Also, during sleep, an important process of growth and weight gain occurs for the baby. Let the mother not be worried that the child does not distinguish between day and night - soon the baby will be more awake during the day, and sleep at night.


The baby expresses all his needs through crying. If he is hungry, wants to sleep or he is cold in the room, a loud scream will be heard, according to which the mother in the future will learn to distinguish between the child's needs. As a rule, the baby wakes up in order to eat, and when he is full, he falls asleep right on the mother's chest.


The newborn spends very little time awake. In these rare moments, the baby can lie in his crib, actively moving his arms and legs. The movements of the baby are not coordinated, all muscles are tense - this is a physiological tone that will pass by 3 months.


A baby urinates frequently during the first month of life - this is a natural process, indicating that the baby is receiving enough breast milk or formula. 20-25 urinations per day are considered normal and the stool frequency is 6-7 times, while its consistency should not be hard or watery.

Video: What a baby can do at 1 month

Baby's weight in the first month of life

A newborn who is breastfed in the first month on average gains 600 g and grows by 3 cm. This indicator can differ significantly if the child is artificially fed, as well as if the mother's milk has a high fat content. In any case, the weight gained by a child who eats mother's milk above this figure is considered normal, because nature determines the composition and amount of breast milk that a particular child needs.


If the baby has gained significantly less than 600 g, then this may be a reason for serious excitement, because the child may be malnourished and this should be discussed with the local pediatrician. Also, a small weight gain can be due to the small size of the child at birth or hereditary factors (for example, if the parents are small in stature and build).

Reflexes of a baby in the first months of life

Nature has created special mechanisms so that the child can adapt to an unknown environment, which is radically different from the cozy mother's belly. For this, there are reflexes that help at a certain stage of life and then fade away. In babies of the first month of existence, the following basic reflexes are distinguished:

  • Sucking is an important reflex that manifests itself in the sucking movements of the lips when touched. Thanks to this, the baby, who does not yet know how to "get" food from his mother's breast, is provided with food


  • Search engine - if you touch the baby's cheek, he will turn towards the stimulus. The reflex is an integral part of the instinct to find food.


  • Grasping is a reflex that ensures the capture of everything that touches the palm or fingers of the child. According to scientists, he remained from our distant ancestors, when the baby grabbed the mother's fur so as not to fall


  • Walking - if the child is supported in an upright position and there is a solid surface under his feet, then he will carry out step movements


  • Swimming - when the child is on his stomach, he begins to imitate the swimming process, making various movements of the arms and legs


  • Mora's reflex - if a loud frightening sound is heard next to the child, then the baby begins to bring and spread the legs and arms


  • Bauer's reflex - in the prone position, the child will perform crawling movements if a palm is placed on his feet, creating a support for repulsion


  • Babinsky reflex - if you run your finger along the outer line of the foot, the child will open the toes


What does a child need in the first month of life ?

In the first month after birth, a newborn needs a comfortable stay, as well as the presence of a mother nearby, who is a source of nutrition and safety for him. At this time, it is important for the child to feel and see the mother, since he does not separate himself from her.


In accordance with the latest WHO research, feeding a newborn baby should be on demand, and not by the hour as it was before. After all, feeding is for the child the time of direct contact with the mother, which is vital for the baby. In the process of sucking at the breast, the child not only receives nutritious milk, but also calms down, puts it to sleep, and special substances in its composition are able to relieve pain.


It is important to keep the baby in a "column" after each feeding so that the baby can vomit air that has entered the stomach while sucking milk.


The baby needs full hygienic conditions that will prevent the penetration of various infections and bacteria into the fragile child's body. To do this, the mother must regularly monitor whether the child has defecated and whether he has dry diapers, whether the diaper is overfilled. It is also important to carry out hygiene procedures:

  • bathing
  • umbilical wound treatment
  • the use of funds for diaper rash and dermatitis
  • cleaning the ears and nose
  • trimming fingernails and toenails


The unshakable need of the baby is walking in the fresh air. At this time, you can ventilate the child's room and carry out wet cleaning. You should also make a gentle massage of fingers, hands and feet, which consists in stroking. After the umbilical wound has healed, you can lay the newborn on the stomach.

Video: Your newborn. Komarovsky

How to dress a baby in the first month of life ?

What should be the clothing of a newborn is determined depending on the season. It is important that the child is comfortable, not cold or hot, the movements are not constrained, and the body is not squeezed. The question of whether to wrap a child in a diaper is decided by the parents, but in recent years more and more experts have argued that tight swaddling negatively affects the development of the child and can cause hip dysplasia.


Baby skin in the first month of life

Cold or hot to a child can be identified by its appearance: the baby's skin is pink in the first month of life, and brightens in the case of cooling. Also, if the baby has a cold nose and limbs, then you should dress him warmer. An invariable attribute of clothing should be scratches, wearing which the child can be protected from scratches caused by uncoordinated movements.


If there are diapers in the child's wardrobe, this will greatly facilitate the mother's work and save her from everyday washings. If the parents decide that it is not worth wearing a diaper, then panties can be used instead, the elastic bands of which do not crush the baby. In any case, it is necessary to carefully monitor that the child is always in dry and comfortable clothes.


Particular attention should be paid to what materials the baby's clothes are made of. These should be natural fabrics, not dyed with synthetic dyes. It is also important to wash children's clothes with a special baby powder to prevent contact dermatitis and more deplorable allergic reactions.

How to develop a baby in the first month of life ? Activities with a child in the first month of life

The development of a newborn consists in all feasible assistance in adaptation and indirect knowledge of the surrounding world. Mom in this period should talk with the baby as much as possible, because her voice is dear and familiar to him, capable of having a calming effect. The baby needs to sing songs, tell fairy tales, consistently name all the actions that you perform. Although the child does not understand the meaning of the mother's words, this will be of great importance in further development and will make the child feel safe.


As for physical development, placing the child on his stomach is considered an important activity with a child in the first month of life: it is recommended to start with a minute and gradually increase the time. It is best to do this before meals and after sleep, when the child is most alert. Massage is also of great importance: gently stroke fingers, arms, legs and back.

Toys for the first month of a child's life

Contrary to the stubborn opinion of most parents that a child of the first month of life needs a large number of bright toys and mobiles above the playpen. But this is far from the case. A child who has just been born is absolutely indifferent to toys: it is important for him that it is warm, dry, there is a caring and loving mother nearby and feedings are made on time.


The only toy may be a soft rattle, which can be used towards the end of the first month of life to develop the baby's hearing and response.

Premature baby in the first month of life

The first month of a premature baby's life is an incredibly difficult period for the baby and his parents. Babies born prematurely have their own characteristics. which predetermine their care:

  • immaturity of internal organs and systems
  • lack of subcutaneous fat and heat regulation mechanisms
  • small size and disproportionate body
  • bone weakness and flexibility of the skull bones
  • lack of reflexes


The baby spends the first days, weeks, and maybe a month in a specialized incubator. The medical staff maintains the optimum temperature and humidity, and feeding is usually provided through a pipette or bottle with the mother's expressed milk or formula.


In fact, the first month of a premature baby's life is a struggle for survival. It is very important for the parents of the baby to gain strength and patience in order to surround the child with anxious care and thorough care. When the critical period can be overcome, the premature newborn will be discharged home, and the parents will receive detailed instructions on how to care for him.

Video: Premature baby and temperature in the house

The first month of a baby's life is magical and at the same time hectic. It is necessary in the first month of a newborn's life to learn how to feed, put to bed and understand his constant demands. And the beginning of a newborn's life is especially dense with them.

The first days of a newborn are pretty simple. All that really matters to him is to eat every few hours, sleep soundly and often, have a dry diaper and receive a lot of love. But for you as a new parent, caring for a newborn baby can seem a lot more difficult. Therefore, focus only on the main points and basic needs of the child.

Baby development 1 month of life

Your newborn is doing a little more than eating, sleeping, crying. You will find your child's reactions to things like light, noise, and touch. You will see that the senses are working hard.

Vision in the first month of a child's life

Your little one sees things best at a distance of 20 - 25 cm. This is the ideal distance for gazing into the eyes of mom or dad.

Their eyes are especially sensitive to bright light, so babies are more likely to open their eyes in low light.

Don't worry if your child sometimes squints or rolls their eyes. This is normal as long as your child's vision does not improve and the muscles in his eyes strengthen.

Let your child see many attractive things. Human faces, contrasting patterns, vibrant colors, movements - this is what newborns like the most. Your child will be interested in black and white photographs or toys longer than objects or paintings with many similar colors.

The child should be able to follow the slow movements of a face or object.

What can a baby hear up to 1 month old?

The child heard sounds while still in the womb. The mother's heartbeat, the murmur of her digestive system and even the sound of her voice are part of the baby's world before birth.

When a baby is born, the sounds of the surrounding world sound loud and clear. A child may be startled by the unexpected barking of a nearby dog, or calm down by the gentle hum of a hairdryer.

Notice how the newborn reacts to the voice. The voices of people, especially parents, are the favorite "music" for the child. If the baby is crying in the cradle, see how quickly your approaching voice soothes him.

Taste and olfactory sensations of the newborn in the first month

Babies taste and smell and will be attracted to sweet tastes rather than bitter ones. For example, a newborn will prefer to suck on a bottle of sweetened water, but will turn away or cry if given something bitter or sour to taste. Likewise, newborns will turn to the smells they prefer and turn away from the odors they don't like.

Research has shown that a mom's diet affects the taste of breast milk. These early flavors will help shape taste preferences later on. For example, a child whose mother ate spicy food while feeding is more likely to favor spicy foods.

Touch is important for a newborn. With every touch, the newborn learns life and its surroundings.

In the womb, babies are kept warm and protected, but after birth, for the first time, they feel cold, hot, and tight seams.

Make sure the newborn finds the outside world a calming place. Provide plenty of comfy clothes and soft blankets, gentle kisses, caresses, and comforting hugs.

From the moment babies are born, they begin to react to the world around them. Their reactions to a hug from their mother or a loud sound are examples of normal baby development.

Doctors use these factors to determine if development is progressing as expected. There is a wide range of what is considered normal, which is why some children acquire skills earlier or later than others.

What should a child be able to do at 1 month of life?

Newborn behavior

  1. Turns head towards parental voices or other sounds.
  2. Cries to inform him of the need to pick him up or feed him, change diapers or put him to bed.
  3. He stops crying when his desire is satisfied (the child was picked up, fed or put to bed).

Motor and physical development of the child in the first month

From the very beginning, the child has a set of reflexes designed to protect him and provide the necessary help, even if the parental instincts have not yet taken effect.

These early reflexes include the search reflex, which helps locate the breast or feeding bottle, the sucking reflex (helps to eat), the grasping reflex (the one that forces your finger to squeeze when it is placed in the baby's palm), and the Moro reflex (a nervous reaction that he experiences when he is afraid).

You can try a reflex test on your child, but remember that your results may differ and are likely to be less reliable than a doctor's test.

Emotional and social development of a child up to 1 month of life

  • calms down from the voice and touch of parents;
  • can concentrate for a short time.

Cognitive skills (thinking and learning)

  1. Looks at faces.
  2. Monitors the expression on the face of the parents.

Newborn care in the first month of life

If you haven't spent a lot of time around newborns, their fragility can be daunting.

Rules for caring for a child in the first month of life

  • be sure to wash your hands before handling the baby. Newborns do not yet have strong immunity, so they are susceptible to infection. Make sure everyone who interacts with your child has clean hands;
  • be careful to support the baby's head and neck when carrying or placing in the crib;
  • do not shake the newborn, whether in play or in frustration. Violent shaking can cause intracranial bleeding and even death. If you need to wake up the baby, do not shake the baby. Instead, tickle your baby's feet or gently pat on the cheek;
  • make sure that the infant carrier, stroller or car seat is securely fastened. Limit any activity that might be too harsh or energetic for your little one.

Remember that a newborn at 1 month old is not prepared for rough play such as shaking or tossing.

How to care for a newborn in the first month?

Caring for a newborn at home includes feeding, changing diapers, changing clothes, caring for the umbilical wound, trimming nails, bathing, and going to bed.

Feeding a newborn

How to feed her newborn in the first month, with a breast or a bottle, is up to the mother.

You may be confused as to how often to do this. It is generally advised to feed the babies on demand, that is, whenever he seems hungry. The baby may signal by crying, sucking on a fist, or smacking sounds.

A newborn baby should be fed every 2 to 3 hours. If breastfeeding, allow your baby to breastfeed for about 10 to 15 minutes on each breast. If you are formula feeding, give about 60 to 90 milliliters for each feeding. For each individual baby, you can individually calculate the one-time volume of the mixture.

When feeding with formula, you can easily control the amount of food. But if you are breastfeeding a baby, it will be a little more difficult. If the baby seems satisfied, has about six wet diapers and stools several times a day, the baby sleeps well and gains weight well, then there is no shortage of food.

Before changing the diaper, make sure that all the accessories are within reach and you do not have to leave the baby alone on the changing table.

To change a diaper you need:

  • clean diaper;
  • diaper ointment if your baby has a rash;
  • a container filled with warm water;
  • a clean cloth, wet wipes, or cotton pads.

After each bowel movement, or if the diaper is wet, place your baby on the back and remove the dirty diaper. Using water, cotton pads and napkins, gently wipe the baby's genitals. When changing a boy's diaper, do it with caution, as exposure to the air can provoke urination.

When wiping the girl, wipe the perineum from the labia to the bottom to avoid a urinary tract infection. Apply an ointment to prevent and treat the rash.

Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after changing a diaper.

A rash in the diaper area is a common problem. As a rule, it is red and convex. After a few days, it will disappear when bathing in warm water, using a cream under a diaper and with a little time spent without it. Most rashes are caused by skin sensitivity, irritated by a wet diaper.

To prevent or treat a rash in the diaper area, try a number of ways:

  1. Change your baby's diaper often and as soon as possible after a bowel movement.
  2. After washing, apply the "barrier" cream. Zinc creams are preferred as they form a moisture barrier.
  3. Leave the baby without a diaper for a while. This allows the skin to take an air bath.

If the rash in the diaper area persists for more than 3 days or appears to get worse, see your doctor. The rash can be caused by a fungal infection that requires medication.

clothing

You will change your child's clothes many times a day.

Here Here are some tips to help make your job more enjoyable - for the baby and for you:

  • start with comfortable clothes. Look for stretch fabrics; wide necks; loose sleeves, cuffs and ankles; buttons, snaps, or zippers on the front of the garment, not the back. Lace may look adorable on your little girl, but it can be prickly or even confuse toddler's fingers, so save it for special occasions;
  • attach a bib if the baby spits up regularly. After all, it is much easier to replace it than clothes.

Umbilical wound and circumcision care

Taking care of your umbilical sore is very important. Experts suggest wiping the area with alcohol until the umbilical cord dries up and falls off.

The baby's navel area should not be immersed in water until the umbilical cord falls and the area heals.

Check with your doctor if your belly button area turns red, smells unpleasant, or if you have discharge.

If a boy is circumcised, immediately after the procedure, the head of the penis is covered with gauze smeared with petroleum jelly so that the wound does not stick to the diaper. After changing the diaper, gently wipe the head with clean warm water, then apply petroleum jelly. Redness or irritation of the penis should heal in a few days, but if redness, swelling, or pus-filled blisters develop, see your doctor right away.

Nails were growing even before the baby was born, so a manicure can be done in the first week of life. This procedure should be carried out every 2 to 3 days in the first month, until the nails harden and stop growing so quickly.

When trimming, hold your baby's toe by pushing the tip of the toe down and away from the nail. Cut the nails gently following the natural curve of the nail. Make sure that you do not cut too low and do not make sudden movements. Keeping tiny toes on your toes, trim your nails straight without rounding to the edges. Remember that nails grow more slowly on toenails and therefore require less maintenance.

Although you will not feel very well, try not to worry if you hurt your child. This happens to all well-meaning moms. Cover the wound with a soft, clean, lint-free cloth or gauze pad and the bleeding will stop soon.

Bathing basics

You should wipe the baby with a soft sponge before the umbilical cord falls off and the navel is completely healed (1 to 4 weeks).

Prepare the following items before bathing the child:

  • clean soft washcloth;
  • mild baby soap and odorless shampoo;
  • soft brush for scalp massage;
  • towel or blanket;
  • clean diaper;
  • fresh clothes.

Rubdown

To do this, select a flat, safe surface in a warm room. Fill the sink, if there is one, or the bowl with warm water. Undress your child and wrap a towel around him. Wipe your baby's eyes with clean cotton balls dipped in water. Movement should be directed from the inner corner to the outer.

Use a separate cotton ball for each eye. Wipe your baby's ears and nose with a damp cloth. Then blot the cloth again and, using a little bit of soap, gently wash your face and pat dry.

Then lather your baby shampoo and wash your baby's hair gently. Try to rinse off the foam as thoroughly as possible. Use a damp cloth to gently wipe your body, especially pay attention to the armpit folds, areas around the neck, behind the ears and in the genital area. Then you need to dry your skin, put on a diaper and clothes.

When your child is ready to take a bath, the first baths should be short-lived.

A baby bath will be added to the accessories listed above. A baby bath is a plastic tub that fits in a large tub. It is the best size for toddlers and makes bathing easier.

Make sure that the water in the bath is no more than 5 - 7 cm deep. Undress your baby in a warm room, then immediately place him in water to prevent chills. Slowly lower the baby up to the chest into the tub, holding his head with one hand.

Use a washcloth to wash your face and hair. Gently massage your scalp with your fingertips or a soft baby brush.

When rinsing the shampoo or soap off your baby's head, place your hand on your forehead to keep the lather flowing to the sides so the soap does not get into your eyes.

Gently wash the rest of your child's body with water.

During the entire bathing, constantly pour water on the child so that he does not catch a cold. After bathing, immediately wrap the baby with a towel, make sure that it covers his head.

Hooded baby towels are great for keeping your freshly washed baby warm.

When bathing a child, never leave him alone. If you need to leave the bathroom, wrap your baby in a towel and take it with you.

Sleep basics

A newborn who seems to need you every minute of the day actually sleeps for about 16 hours or more. Newborns usually sleep for 2 to 4 hours. Don't expect him to sleep all night long. Babies' digestive systems are so small that they need food every few hours, and crumbs should wake up if they haven't been fed for 4 hours.

Put your baby to sleep on a back or on a side to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Also, remove all fluffy items, quilts, sheepskins, stuffed animals and pillows from bed to make sure your little one does not get tangled up in them or suffocate.

Also, in order to prevent one-sided flattening of the head, do not forget to alternate the position of the baby every night.

Many newborns have “confused” days and nights. They tend to stay awake at night and sleep more during the day. One way to help them is to keep nighttime excitement to a minimum. Keep the lights low using a night light. Talk and play with your baby throughout the day. When your baby wakes up during the day, try not to sleep a little more, talking and playing.

Encouraging the Newborn to Learn

As parents take care of their newborn, he learns to recognize touch, the sound of a voice, and the appearance of faces.

In the first weeks, you may have several simple, age-adapted toys that develop hearing, vision and tactile sensations.

  1. Rattles.
  2. Kids toys.
  3. Musical toys.
  4. Unbreakable bed mirrors.

Try toys and mobiles with contrasting colors and patterns. Strong contrasts (such as red, white and black), curves and symmetry stimulate the development of a child's vision. As their eyesight improves and children gain more control over their movements, they will interact more and more with their environment.

While the focus these days is naturally about keeping the baby healthy, it gets much more difficult if the mom doesn't stay healthy on her own. Therefore, make your health a priority in the first month after giving birth. A short fifteen-minute nap will allow you to refresh yourself a little.

Store stocks of readily available but nutritious foods such as cheese sticks, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, fruits, and prepared vegetables so you can eat often. Know that your nutritional needs will be higher if you are breastfeeding your baby.

Feeding

When your baby is 1 month old, he needs to be fed at least 6 times a day. Try not to be too strict about feeding time, let your baby determine how much and how often he wants to eat.

Let your baby sleep enough at 1 month, be sensitive to his signals.

Even at this early stage, try to put your baby in his crib when he is tired but still awake. Most young babies go to bed shortly after feeding and their sleep window can be very short.

Behavior

Perhaps you will see early smiles when the newborn is one month old. But most likely this will be due to their reflexes, and not to the reaction. Closer to six weeks, the baby will give a true smile. Many babies develop colic at the age of 1 month.

Motor skills of a child at 1 month

A 1 month old baby will be stronger than a newborn. He may be able to raise his head for a short time when he is standing upright or lying on his stomach. Perhaps he can even turn her from side to side. But you still need to give him support.

Your child also becomes more expressive and may start gurgling when they see family members. Be sure to respond to his efforts to encourage these communication skills.

How to develop a baby at 1 month old?

  • provide the child with daily laying out on the tummy. This will help develop muscles in the neck and upper torso;
  • play music and try not to filter your child's world. While it may be tempting to tiptoe around the house while the baby is sleeping, it can lead to the baby becoming sensitive to environmental noise. Babies who come to families where there are already many small children do not react to the noise of the house and learn to adapt, because they have to.

All children are unique and develop at their own pace. Development recommendations simply show what the baby can do. And if not at the moment, then in the very near future.

If you have questions or concerns, ask your doctor for suggestions about possible solutions that will help you and your baby grow together.