Activities for a 1-month-old: Fostering baby’s development

Between 6 weeks and 3 months, many babies are at their most irritable, especially in the late afternoon or throughout the night. With so much new information to process, newborns easily become over-stimulated and can lose their cool (to put it lightly). Colic may also be a factor. If it seems like your newborn is crying nonstop, your child’s pediatrician can help identify the signs that might signal if colic is the cause.

As you might guess, a fussy baby is less open to developmental activities, which is why Tovah Klein, PhD, director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development and author of “How Toddlers Thrive,”  has simple tips to ease crankiness and soothe your little one.

Related: Colicky baby? Try this mesmerizing TikTok hack

Sensory activities for 1-month-old babies

Responding to your baby’s needs and offering them lots of attention and snuggles is what’s most helpful for their sensory development at this stage.

Soothing your baby

Cries

By this time you may have a better idea of what the different cries mean (hunger, pain, tired, bored), and that makes it easier for you to respond to your baby’s needs. But don’t worry if you’re still unsure of the different cries; you’ll know them in time. Whenever your baby cries, it means they need something, or they just need you.

Related: European ‘crying baby ambulance’ offers much-needed help to exhausted parents of newborns

Smiling

When you focus on the baby and talk to them, they will sometimes smile at you and wait for you to smile back. This is a way for baby to communicate with you and show pleasure.

Touch

Touch has been shown to be very soothing and comforting to babies. When babies are fed, it is comforting for them to hear your calming voice and feel your soothing touch. Always hold your baby in your arms to feed them.

Love

When babies are treated in a loving and sensitive way, it actually helps their brains develop. They learn that they are good at communicating. Babies whose caregivers go to them and take care of them when they cry grow up to be happier and smarter.

While you’re a long way from your little one being able to tell you what they need, this month they’re mastering new skills (like smiling!) that make your interactions even more meaningful.

Related: What happens to a mom’s brain when their baby smiles for the first time

Developmental activities for 1-month-old babies

The idea of playing with your 1-month-old might feel a little one-sided, at first, but your little one greatly benefits from every interaction they have with you and other caregivers. Here are a few 1-month-old developmental activities to try in between feeding and diapering and sleeping.

Have a chat

Conversing with your little one is super important so they know you’re listening. Watch to see how your baby responds when you use their name and speak to them—do they turn their head to follow your voice? Make coos of their own? Talk with baby about the things you’re doing daily, like making tea, going for a walk and looking at the trees; even diaper changes seem interesting to them if you’re telling them all about it, mama.

Copy cat

Try making different facial expressions for your baby to imitate, like wrinkling up your nose, sticking out your tongue and smiling. Watching you make these moves helps baby understand social cues and emotions.

Tummy time

It’s never too early to start tummy time—as even just a few minutes a day spent on their bellies can help babies strengthen their trunk, head and neck control. Try laying baby tummy-down across your lap while seated, so they’ll know you’re right there with them. Progress to a fun play mat with graphic, black and white toys or books to flip through.

Related: 1-month-old baby milestones

Things to do with a 1-month-old

Try these week-by-week tips for your 1-month-old from child development psychologist Dr. Holly Ruhl.

Week 1

Feeling overwhelmed with your new motherly responsibilities? We hear you. Take a deep breath and find some time to relax with baby. Grab a cup of coffee, pop your drowsy little bundle in the baby carrier and find a shady spot to sit outside. You might even find that your newborn cries less when nestled closely to mama and sleeps better amidst the ambient noises.

Note: If you’re struggling to find joy in things you used to love or feel like you’re more anxious than you used to be, reach out to a mental health professional or your healthcare provider for support. Postpartum depression and anxiety can set in anytime within the first year postpartum, and there are many different treatment avenues available.

Week 2

By now your baby should have some neck control, making this the perfect week to offer a daily massage. Infant massage can improve parent-infant interactions, reduce crying, and relieve stress. Plus, a bedtime massage can promote relaxation and sleep, so you might score a few extra winks, too.

Week 3

Unlike adults, infants are innately capable of distinguishing unique sounds from foreign languages until linguistic experiences begin to shrink this ability around 6 months of age. This week, take advantage of baby’s natural propensity for learning languages by exposing those little ears to a variety of new sounds with songs and audiobooks in foreign languages.

Week 4

Waiting in anticipation for that first smile? This week, wait until baby is alert and try to coax a grin with silly faces and sounds. Baby can see up to 18 inches away now, so make sure baby has a front row seat for the show. If baby begins to squirm, fuss or turn away, take an intermission. Being in sync with baby’s cues is a natural way to promote secure attachment with your infant.

Our favorite products for 1-month-olds

Lovevery

The Looker Play Kit

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$80

If you’re already stressing about entertaining and educating this tiny new human, don’t worry! You’re doing great. But if you want to feel a little more confident, Lovevery offers Play Kits to support both babies and parents.

Their Looker Play Kit is packed with a brilliant assortment of newborn-appropriate toys that grow with them for the first few months. From black-and-white mittens to promote hand discovery and control to a colorful two-sided mobile that will capture their attention through diaper changes, each one is engaging, brain-boosting and high-quality. But what’s even better, the kit includes an easy-to-follow Play Guide that highlights the why and how of each thoughtfully-designed piece along with tips on how to make the most of play time.

SHOP

Wee Gallery

Black and White Animal Flash Cards

With adorable animal imagery, these high contrast black and white cards are designed to help stimulate your little one’s visual development. Each one is made from thick, sturdy board in an oversize format and double-sided to keep them curious and engaged.

SHOP

Look Look by Peter Linenthal

$6.99

This classic board book makes a fabulous addition to your baby’s growing library. Each page features black-and-white cut paper art along with a few words in red, curving type to catch their eye.

SHOP

Look ahead: Activities for an 2-month-old: Fostering baby’s development

A version of this story was originally published on Nov. 24, 2015. It has been updated.