1 Month Well-Child Visit

The 1 month old infant is starting to interact more with the world around. Growth is still very rapid. Feeding and sleeping schedules are usually more established. What can you expect at this visit with the Pediatrician?

Vitals – heart rate and respiratory rate will be counted, temperature is taken. Usually a pulse oximetry (measurement of the amount of oxygen saturation of the blood using a light on infant’s toe or wrist) is done as well. 

Growth measurements – your infant will have growth measurements done, including length, weight, and head circumference. These are plotted on a growth chart that is specific to your baby’s gender and now can be compared to previous visits to the Pediatrician’s office. These growth curves are monitored over time to make sure your infant is growing appropriately and proportionally. At this point, you will likely start to see a pattern of which curves your baby is growing on. Growth curves are measured in “percentiles” where 50th percentile is the average measurement for age and gender. Infants who fall above the 50th percentile are “above average” for that measurement, while infants who fall below the 50th percentile are “below average.” Keep in mind that many factors affect where your baby falls on the curve – genetics, feeding patterns, prematurity. Steady growth over time is more important than which exact curve your baby falls on.

Development – 1 month old infants are expected to make eye contact with parents, though likely are not tracking movements yet. They turn towards voices or startle with unexpected noises. They start to have different cries for hunger and tiredness. Arm and leg movements are equal and they can lift their heads easily off of a parent’s shoulder or during tummy time. Hands are starting to unclench. 

Questions from the Pediatrician – your baby’s doctor will ask questions about feeding, burping, sleeping, voiding (urination) and stooling (bowel movements), spit up, and more. You may also be given a questionnaire for postpartum depression. 

Exam – your infant will have a head-to-toe exam at every well-child visit. 

Questions from you – do you have concerns about your baby’s development or movements? Feeding? Sleeping? Are you going back to work soon and need advice on childcare or building up a breastmilk supply? Remember, these visits are your chance to ask whatever questions are on your mind.

Safety information – part of every well-child visit is discussion of safety that is appropriate for age. For newborns, this includes:

• sleep practices – infants should sleep on their back in their own basinette or crib. There should be no extra blankets, pillows, crib bumpers, stuffed animals, or sleep positioners in the crib. Infants should never sleep in parents’ bed, in swings, or in reclined sleepers. 
• car seat instructions – infants should be in their infant car seats, in the back seat, facing backwards. 
• water safety during bath time – infants should never be left alone in the water, even if it is only a few inches or only for a short amount of time. Drowning occurs quickly. 
• fall risks – even when they are not yet able to roll independently, infants are capable of moving around in their environment. They should not be left alone on couches, changing tables, beds, or any other elevated surface. 

Next visit: 2 months

If you enjoyed this post, please sign up below to subscribe for blog emails. You will receive notification when new posts are available.