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Create Healthy Eating and Fitness Habits for Your One Month Old Baby

Last Updated: September 26, 2008

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Parenting Tips for Your 1 Month Old Baby


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One of the most important things that parents can do for their children is to teach them how to be healthy. Children should learn how much to eat, how it feels to be full, and how to be physically active.

Your baby uses signals to “talk” to you. Learn to read those signals so he can learn to depend on you. It helps for you to be there for your baby when he needs you.

When your baby is hungry, he may:

  • Begin to move his mouth
  • Rapidly move his eyes in his sleep
  • Try to suck on his hand or tongue, your shoulder, or anything he can touch
  • Bob his head and search around
  • Be fussy, squirm, stretch, and clench his fists or toes

When your baby has had enough food, he may:

  • Push away the bottle or breast
  • Turn his head away
  • Put his hands in front of his mouth
  • Cry and fuss
  • Forcefully move his entire body away from you
  • Smile and relax his body
  • Fall asleep with the nipple in his mouth

Help your baby learn to enjoy moving. With your baby on his back, hold his ankles and gently move his legs as if he is pedaling a bicycle. Sing a song and keep rhythm with the movements. Lift his arms gently up and down over his head — and then in and out. With your baby on his back, hold a toy above his body. Encourage him to try to reach for it.

Give your baby a gentle massage after his bath. Touching him helps you bond.


Learn more about Your 1 Month Old Baby from Just In Time Parenting. You can also go to our Resource Links for additional information on child care and development.


Note to Parents: When reading this newsletter, remember: Every baby is different. Children may do things earlier or later than described here. This newsletter gives equal space and time to both sexes. If he or she is used, we are talking about all babies.
References: These materials were adapted by authors from Extension Just in Time Parenting Newsletters in California, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Tennessee, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Wisconsin.

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