Newborn Developmental Milestones: What to Expect in the First Month

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Bringing a newborn home is a beautiful and overwhelming experience. Between feeding schedules, sleepless nights, and learning your baby’s cues, it’s easy to wonder: “Is my baby developing normally?” One of the most common concerns new parents have in the postpartum period revolves around developmental milestones—especially during the first few weeks of infant development.

The truth is that the newborn stage (0–1 month) is less about hitting big, visible milestones and more about subtle cues related to growth, reflexes, and sensory awakening. In this blog, you’ll learn what’s typical in the first month, what’s worth watching, and when to reach out for support.

The First Month: A “Waking Up” Period

Humans are actually born a little early compared to other mammals. Much of infant development continues outside the womb, which is why the first month is often described as the “fourth trimester.” Your baby is adjusting to life earth-side and slowly becoming more alert.

During these early weeks, three major developmental priorities take center stage:

✨ Returning to birth weight

✨ Establishing effective nutrition

✨ Settling into sleep/wake patterns

These are broad expectations—not deadlines. Every baby will land somewhere on their own timeline.

Motor Skills, Reflexes, and Early Infant Development

During the newborn phase, movement is mostly reflex-driven, not intentional. Here’s what you might notice in early developmental milestones:

Normal movement patterns

• Jerky arm and leg movements

• Tight fists

• Wiggly or sporadic motions

Over time, these involuntary movements give way to more purposeful motor control.

Primitive reflexes you’ll see

These reflexes are important markers in early infant development:

Rooting Reflex: Baby turns toward touch near their cheek in search of a nipple.Sucking Reflex: Encourages feeding and nutrition.Moro (Startle) Reflex: Sudden arm extension when baby feels like they’re falling.Palmar Grasp: Baby grasps objects placed in their palm.Stepping Reflex: When held upright, baby may appear to take “steps” on a surface.

These reflexes are signs of a healthy, functioning nervous system and are normal indicators of developmental milestones in the first month postpartum.

Sensory Development: Seeing and Hearing the World

Hearing

Babies can startle at loud noises and turn toward familiar voices—especially those of primary caregivers. Newborn hearing screenings are part of routine postpartum care and support long-term language development.

Vision

Newborns can see clearly only about 8–12 inches away—perfect for gazing at your face during feeding. You’ll also notice:

• Brief eye contact

• Interest in high-contrast patterns

• Occasional tracking of slow movement

Simple black-and-white toys or books are ideal for early infant development.

Social and Communication Milestones

Although your baby can’t smile socially quite yet, you might notice:

• Brief eye contact

• Calming when held or spoken to

• More varied cries for different needs

Crying is their primary language right now and is an important developmental milestone that helps build communication pathways.

Feeding Patterns & the Postpartum Learning Curve

Not all sucking means your baby is actively feeding.

Nutritive sucking: Strong, rhythmic sucking with swallowing.

Non-Nutritive (Comfort) sucking: Soothing behavior with little milk transfer.

Cluster feeding—common during the postpartum phase—helps establish milk supply, especially in breastfed infants.Some babies may need to be woken to feed, especially if they’re sleepier, born earlier, or adjusting slowly.

Sleep Expectations During Early Infant Development

Newborns sleep 14–18+ hours per day. Patterns can vary widely:

• Some take frequent short naps

• Some sleep in longer stretches

Both are typical—especially in the early postpartum weeks—as long as:

• Baby is gaining weight

• Baby wakes to feed

• Baby is alert during wake windows

Avoid comparing your newborn’s sleep to others; there’s a wide range of normal in early infant development.

Red Flags to Discuss With Your Provider

Most babies won’t show concerning signs, but it’s helpful to watch for:

🚩 No response or startle to loud noises

🚩 No calming to familiar caregiver voices

🚩 No ability to follow objects with their eyes

🚩 Very floppy muscle tone or extreme stiffness

🚩 Trouble latching or crying while latched

🚩 Lack of weight gain

Early intervention improves long-term developmental outcomes.

Never hesitate to reach out—your concerns are valid.

Remember: Developmental Milestones Are Guidelines, Not Deadlines

The first month is full of tiny, meaningful changes. It’s easy to feel pressure to measure or compare, but newborn developmental milestones are meant to show patterns, not strict timelines.

Your baby’s job right now is to:

• Eat

• Sleep

• Bond

• Adjust

And your job? To support, nurture, and rest when possible.

You’re Not Alone in the Postpartum Journey

If this information helped you feel more confident—and a little less overwhelmed—you’re exactly where you need to be.

If you found this helpful:

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And if you want more guidance, follow me on Instagram at @thefirstyeardoula.

Postpartum doesn’t have to feel like survival mode. With the right support, you and your baby can truly bloom.