From newborn to six weeks
Your baby may begin to lose their very newborn appearance, although their legs might still be slightly bent. They will probably be able to lift their head briefly when lying on their tummy. Their hands will remain clenched in a tight fist and fingers will automatically curl around anything put into their palm. This grasp reflex is one of the many natural reflexes your baby is born with.
Feeding your baby
At around six weeks of age, many babies go through a growth spurt which can mean a hungrier baby for a few days. The feeding schedule you had may have just gone out the window! It is worth knowing that this may occur so you can just increase the frequency of the feed and then allow the pattern to settle back after a few days.
Communicating
Crying remains your baby’s main form of communication, although they’ll also use gurgling, grunting and humming sounds when feeling snug and content. At 6 weeks you may be lucky enough to catch baby’s first smiles.
Eyesight
Your one month old baby’s eyesight is developing in quality and range, although it’s still quite limited. They’re now particularly drawn to two things: the human face – especially yours –and almost any moving object.
When your baby smiles, it might just be a real one! You can tell it's a social smile if they use their entire face to show you they’re pleased and it lights up their eyes. Babies will smile only when they are ready, but you can try and encourage them by cuddling, tickling, and playing with them!
Stay close to help bond with your baby
Your baby loves being close to you, so move their arms and legs gently and continue to use massage as you did in the first few weeks. Holding your baby close during feeding, picking them up and rocking them gently will make them feel loved and help strengthen the emotional bond between you.