Newborn Milestones
The sensory awakening phase - Reflexes, recognition, and the first hints of who your baby will become.
What to Expect at 0–1 Month
🦵 Gross Motor
- Reflex movements dominate: rooting (turning toward touch on cheek), sucking, palmar grasp, plantar grasp
- Moro startle reflex: arms fling outward then come back in when startled
- Turns head side-to-side when lying on back
- Raises head briefly (1–2 seconds) during tummy time by end of first month
- Stepping reflex: when held upright with feet touching surface, makes stepping movements
✋ Fine Motor
- Strong palmar grasp reflex - Fingers close tightly around an adult finger
- Hands mostly fisted - High muscle tone is normal
- Random, uncoordinated arm and leg movements
- Cannot reach deliberately for objects yet
- Brings hand to face occasionally
💬 Language
- Communicates entirely through crying - Different cries for hunger, discomfort, tiredness, and pain
- Startles and stills to a familiar voice (yours)
- May quiet to sound of heartbeat or white noise - Familiar from the womb
- Makes tiny throaty or gurgly noises during calm alert states
- Prefers high-pitched voices - Responds more to 'motherese' speech
🧠 Social / Cognitive
- Prefers human faces over any other visual stimulus
- Recognises primary caregiver's voice - Learned in utero
- Brief periods of quiet alertness (15–30 min per cycle) - The best time to interact
- Can see clearly at 20–30 cm - Roughly the distance to your face during feeding
- Shows preference for high-contrast patterns (black and white)
Newborn Reflexes Explained
Baby turns head toward anything that touches its cheek, opens mouth, and makes sucking movements. Helps baby locate the nipple.
Fades by: 3–4 months
Baby sucks automatically when the roof of the mouth is stimulated. Distinct from voluntary sucking that develops later.
Fades by: 4 months
When startled by sound or movement, baby flings arms out, opens hands, then pulls arms back in - Sometimes crying. Completely normal.
Fades by: 4–6 months
Baby's fingers close tightly when something touches the palm. Cannot voluntarily release yet.
Fades by: 5–6 months
Toes curl when the ball of the foot is touched.
Fades by: 9–12 months
When held upright with feet touching a surface, baby makes stepping movements - Even before they can control their legs.
Fades by: 2–3 months
Stroking the outer sole of the foot makes the big toe extend upward and other toes fan out. Normal in infancy.
Fades by: 12–24 months
How to Support Development at 0–1 Month
Talk, sing, and narrate
Describe what you're doing: 'I'm changing your nappy now - Left leg, right leg.' Your voice is the most powerful developmental tool you have.
Skin-to-skin contact
Regulates baby's temperature, heart rate, and cortisol. Also supports milk supply if breastfeeding. Fathers benefit too.
Tummy time
Even 2–3 minutes per session, several times a day. On your chest counts. Builds the neck strength needed for rolling and sitting.
Eye contact during feeds
Feeds are prime interaction time. Hold baby close, make eye contact, use a quiet gentle voice.
High contrast visuals
Black and white patterns, simple geometric shapes, or your face at 25–30cm distance. Newborn vision is 20/400 - Only sees detail up close.
White noise
Mimics the womb - A whooshing sound at moderate volume helps baby sleep and can calm a fussy newborn.
Singapore 1-Month Polyclinic Visit
At approximately 4 weeks, your polyclinic nurse and doctor will check: weight, length, head circumference, fontanelle, red reflex in eyes, hip stability, testes in boys, feeding patterns, and look for the early signs of social smile. They will also administer the Hepatitis B second dose. Bring your Child Health Booklet.
Continue through the Milestones: