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1-Month Baby Weight: Your Baby's Growth at 1-Month

Team AckoFeb 8, 2024

The first month of life is always a period of rapid growth. Your baby will continue to grow at a similar rate, gaining about 1 to 1½ inches (2.5 to 3.8 centimetres) in length this month and about 2 more pounds (907 grams) in weight. These are just averages — your baby may grow somewhat faster or slower, and is likely to have a growth spurt.

Contents

Five Senses
One-month old feeding
Should you be concerned?
What's Next?

If your baby is extra fussy or wants to eat more than usual at around 6 weeks of age, it's probably due to a growth spurt. If you breastfeed, you might find that your baby wants to eat more often (what may seem like every hour!), especially at certain times of the day. Some people call this "cluster feeding."

Formula-fed babies may want to eat more frequently or will drink more during feedings. Pay attention to signals that your baby is hungry (sticking out the tongue or sucking) or full (turning away or dozing off). If the fussiness continues for more than a day or two, tell the doctor. Your doctor will measure your baby's weight, length, and head circumference and track his or her growth on a standardized growth chart (there are different charts for boys and girls).

Your 1-Month baby's growth pattern

Whether your baby is large, small, or medium-sized, as long as this growth pattern stays consistent over time, chances are your baby's progress is just fine. If your baby is born prematurely, keep in mind that growth and development should not be compared with that of a full-term child. Preemies will need to be followed more closely and may need to be weighed more often during the first months to make sure they are growing properly. They have some catching up to do!

Five Senses

Your one-month-old baby’s hearing is fully developed, and she may turn towards familiar sounds and voices.

 Your baby’s eyes at this point still wander and may sometimes cross, which could make you wonder: How far can a one-month-old see?

She can now see and focus on objects that are about 8 to 12 inches away. She likes black and white patterns and those in other contrasting colors. But she'd rather look at faces than anything else, so no need for fancy toys. Just hold her facing you, and chat away!

 Your baby’s sense of smell is developing too. She likes sweet smells (bitter or acidic thing are basically yuck to her), and if you’re breastfeeding, she’d probably be able to pick your breast milk out of a line-up, since she knows the smell and taste so well!

 She loves to touch things that are soft (a cozy blanket) and doesn’t like to be held or moved in a rough or abrupt way. So keep things gentle—you probably already are!

One-month old feeding

Your 1-month-old is still probably feeding once every two to three hours if you’re breastfeeding; once every three to four hours if you’re formula feeding. By now, you’ve probably learned to follow baby’s cues to tell when she’s hungry; you may even be able to identify her own distinct hunger cry.

How much should a one-month-old eat?

If you’re breastfeeding, don’t worry too much about the quantity of breast milk. You can’t measure it when it comes straight from the tap anyhow! Your baby will know when she’s full by stopping, moving away from your breast or falling asleep. Soon, the baby will become a more efficient feeder and will be able to get more milk in a shorter amount of time, so you may notice you spend a teeny bit less time feeding in the coming months.

If you’re formula feeding, your baby is probably consuming a four-ounce bottle about once every four hours.

What can baby eat this month?

Your baby should still stick to just formula or breast milk or a combo of both. If you’re wondering, ''Can a 1-month-old drink water?'' Know that most doctors recommend waiting until the baby is at least 6 months old before you give her water. She gets plenty of fluids from your breast milk or formula!

There may be some exceptions, so always check with the paediatrician first.

Should you be concerned?

If your baby is not growing at the expected rate, or the growth rate slows, your doctor will want to make sure your baby is getting enough to eat. The doctor may ask you about:

 How many feeds your baby gets in a day?

At 1 month, a breastfed baby may feed about 8 times in a 24-hour period; bottle-fed babies usually eat less frequently, perhaps every 3 to 4 hours.

 How much your baby eats at each feeding?

A baby generally nurses for at least 10 minutes, should be heard to swallow, and should seem satisfied when done. At this age, bottle-fed babies may drink up to 4 to 5 ounces (118-148 millilitres) at a time.

 How often does your baby urinate?

Babies should have at least 4 to 6 wet diapers a day.

 How many bowel movements your baby has each day, and their volume and consistency?

Most babies will have 1 or more bowel movements daily, but it may be normal to skip 1 or 2 days if the consistency is normal. Breastfed babies' stools tend to be soft and slightly runny. The stools of formula-fed babies tend to be a little firmer, but should not be hard or formed.

Most of the time, a baby's growth will simply be tracked over the next few months during routine well-baby visits. But if your doctor is concerned about your baby's growth, he or she will want to see your baby more often.

What's Next?

Next month, you can expect to see your baby grow 1 to 1½ inches (2.5 to 3.8 centimetres) in length and gain about 2 pounds (907 grams). At this rate, it may seem like your baby is outgrowing clothes every other day and you can't keep up. Don't worry. This rapid growth will slow down in the second half of the first year.

One-month-old checkups/tips

 Take the baby to her one-month-old check-up.

 Ask the doctor about supplementing with vitamin D drops if you’re breastfeeding.

 Vaccination: The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends a second dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine between 1 and 2 months old.

 Schedule your baby’s two-month-old check-up.

 Go to your postpartum checkup at about six weeks post-birth (sooner if you had a c-section).

 Plan a date night with your partner (even if it’s while the baby’s sleeping).

 Take your baby’s 1-month old baby photo.

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

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