Your baby’s social development at 1 month old. Follow your baby’s milestones step-by-step.
Social development allows children to build harmonious, positive relationships with others. As kids develop socially, they learn how to communicate and manage their emotions, consider other points of view before acting, resolve conflicts, cooperate, and participate in society. A child’s temperament, primarily determined by genetics, influences how they interact with others from an early age. However, they continue to develop social skills as they grow, learning from personal experiences and the people around them—namely, their parents and family members.
Social development: 1 month old
At this age:
Remember that not all children develop the same skills at the same speed. The material on this website is for general information purposes only. If you’re concerned about your child’s development, speak with a doctor.
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Your baby makes eye contact when you smile at them.
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They get excited when they hear you talking to them.
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They’re relaxed around familiar faces.
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They look people in the eye.
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Your baby cries to express their needs (e.g., a nap, a feeding, a diaper change, a cuddle).
Over the next few weeks, your baby will begin to do the following:
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Recognize familiar voices.
How can you help your baby progress?
Every child is different and develops at their own pace. That said, you can help foster your baby’s development by adopting the Comfort, Play, and Teach parenting approach, which can easily be integrated into your daily routine. The table below outlines small, age-specific actions you can take that will benefit your baby’s social development.
Comfort
When you make eye contact with your baby, | | they learn to recognize your face. |
When you rock and cuddle your baby, | | they relax and feel safe in your arms. |
Teach
When you smile at your baby and make funny faces, | | they carefully study your expressions. |
When you hold your baby close while slowly dancing to music, | | they’re comforted by the rhythmic movements. |
Play
When you recognize your baby’s emotional cues, | | they feel cared for and understood. |
When you take the time to watch your baby’s reactions and respond appropriately, | | they sense your attention and respond in turn. |
| Scientific review: Annie Goulet, psychologist
Research and copywriting: The Naître et grandir team
Updated: March 2020 |
Photo: GettyImages/StefaNikolic
SourcesPlease note that hyperlinks to other websites are not updated regularly, and some may have changed since publication. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. If a link is no longer valid, use search engines to find the relevant information. - Doré, Nicole, and Danielle Le Hénaff. From Tiny Tot to Toddler: A practical guide for parents from pregnancy to age two. “Your child’s development.” Quebec City, Institut national de santé publique du Québec. www.inspq.qc.ca
- Ferland, Francine. Le développement de l’enfant au quotidien : de 0 à 6 ans. 2nd ed., Éditions du CHU Sainte-Justine, 2018, 264 pp.
- Passeport Santé. “Développement de bébé à 1 mois : tout ce qui change.” 2017. www.passeportsante.net
- Canadian Paediatric Society. Caring for Kids. “Your child’s development: What to expect.” www.caringforkids.cps.ca
- Université de Montréal. “Portail enfance et familles : Les étapes de développement de l’enfant de la naissance à l’adolescence.” www.portailenfance.ca
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