About this topic
Your babys 1-month well child exam is a visit with the doctor to check your baby's health. The doctor measures your child's weight, height, and head size. The doctor plots these numbers on a growth curve. The growth curve gives a picture of your baby's growth at each visit. The doctor may listen to your baby's heart, lungs, and belly. Your doctor will do a full exam of your baby from the head to the toes. ‚
Your baby may also need shots or blood tests during this visit. ‚
General
Growth and Development ‚
Your doctor will ask you how your baby is developing. The doctor will focus on the skills that most children your childs age are expected to do. During the first month of your child's life, here are some things you can expect. ‚
- Movement ¢ ˆ ’ Your baby may:
- Start to be more alert and respond to you.
- Move arms and legs more smoothly.
- Start to put a closed hand to the mouth or in front of the face.
- Have problems holding their head up.
- Hearing and seeing ¢ ˆ ’ Your baby will likely:
- Turn to the sound of your voice.
- See best about 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) away from the face.
- Want to look at your face or a black and white pattern.
- Still have problems where their eyes may cross or wander.
- Feeding ¢ ˆ ’ Your baby needs:
- Breast milk or formula for all of their nutrition. Your baby should not be given juice, water, cow's milk, rice cereal, or solid food at this age.
- To eat every 2 to 3 hours, based on if you are breast or bottle feeding. Look for signs your baby is hungry like:
- Smacking or licking the lips
- Sucking on fingers, hands, tongue, or lips
- Opening and closing mouth
- Rooting and moving the head from side to side
- Your baby may turn away, close the mouth, or relax the arms when full. Do not overfeed your baby.
- To be burped often if having problems with spitting up.
- Sleep ¢ ˆ ’ Your child:
- Sleeps for about 2 to 4 hours at a time
- Is likely sleeping about 16 to 18 hours total out of each day
- May sleep better when swaddled. Monitor your baby when swaddled. Check to make sure your baby has not rolled over. Also, make sure the swaddle blanket has not come loose. Keep the swaddle blanket loose around your baby 's hips. Stop swaddling your baby before your baby starts to roll over. Most times, you will need to stop swaddling your baby by 2 months of age.
- Should always sleep on the back, in your child's own bed, on a firm mattress
- Shots or vaccines ¢ ˆ ’ Your baby may need:
- Hepatitis B vaccine if the first dose was given right after your baby was born.
Help for Parents ‚
- Play with your baby.
- Use tummy time to help your baby grow strong neck muscles. Shake a small rattle to encourage your baby to turn their head to the side.
- Talk or sing to your baby often. Let your baby look at your face. Show your baby pictures.
- Gently move your baby's arms and legs. Give your baby a gentle massage.
- Here are some things you can do to help keep your baby safe and healthy.
- Learn CPR and basic first aid. Learn how to take your baby 's temperature.
- Do not allow anyone to smoke in your home or around your baby.
- Have the right size car seat for your baby and use it every time your baby is in the car. Your baby should be rear facing until 2 years of age.
- Always place your baby on the back for sleep. Keep soft bedding, bumpers, and toys out of your baby's bed.
- Keep one hand on the baby whenever you are changing their diaper or clothes.
- Keep small toys and objects away from your baby.
- Never leave your baby alone in the bath.
- Parents need to think about:
- A plan for going back to work or school.
- A reliable babysitter or daycare provider
- How to handle bouts of crying or colic. It is normal for your baby to have times when they are hard to console. You need a plan for what to do if you are frustrated because it is never OK to shake a baby.
- The next well child visit will most likely be when your baby is 2 months old. At this visit your doctor may:
- Do a full check up on your baby
- Talk about how your baby is sleeping, if your baby has colic, and how well you are coping with your baby
- Give your baby the next set of shots
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher
- Having a hard time breathing
- Doesn 't have a wet diaper for more than 8 hours
- Problems eating or spits up a lot
- Legs and arms are very loose or floppy all the time
- Legs and arms are very stiff
- Wont stop crying
- Doesn't blink or startle with loud sounds
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Pediatrics ‚
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Developmental-Milestones-1-Month.aspx ‚
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/milestones-tracker.pdf ‚
Last Reviewed Date
2015-03-12 ‚
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Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved. ‚