Is it normal that my newborn sleeps almost all day?

Yes. Newborns often sleep 14 to 17 hours across a full day, usually in short stretches around feedings. Frequent waking to feed is expected in the first month. Tell your pediatrician if your baby is very hard to wake for feeds or is feeding poorly.

Why does my baby startle and throw out their arms?

That is the Moro or startle reflex, a normal automatic response to a sudden sound, movement, or feeling of falling. It is a sign the nervous system is working and usually fades over the first few months. Swaddling and holding your baby close can help reduce startling.

Should my one-month-old be smiling at me yet?

Many babies are not yet smiling socially at one month, and that is within the normal range. A true social smile in response to you often appears in the second month. Bring it up at your well visit if you have not seen a social smile by around two months, since your pediatrician decides what is on track.

Growth & Development · Newborn

Newborn milestones & reflexes: the first month

In the first month most newborns mostly eat, sleep, and respond to the world with reflexes rather than skills. You can expect brief eye contact, turning toward sounds and faces, calming when picked up, and strong automatic reflexes like grasping and sucking. Babies vary widely in timing, and your pediatrician is the one who decides if development is on track at each well visit.

3 min read Growth & Development Updated June 2026

What to expect in the first month

A one-month-old is still adjusting to life outside the womb. Most of the day goes to feeding and sleeping, often in short stretches. Between sleeps you may notice your baby watching your face for a moment, reacting to loud sounds, and settling when you hold or feed them.

These are early social and sensory responses, not learned abilities yet. They tend to grow steadily over the next few weeks as your baby spends a little more time awake and alert.

Looks at faces and may hold a brief gaze
Turns head toward familiar voices or sounds
Moves arms and legs on both sides
Calms for a short time when picked up or spoken to
Brings hands near the face

Common newborn reflexes

Newborns are born with automatic movements called reflexes. These are normal and expected, and your pediatrician checks for them during exams. Most fade over the first several months as the brain matures and voluntary movement takes over.

You do not need to test reflexes yourself. Just knowing what they are can help the startle reflex feel less surprising at home.

Rooting: turns toward your touch on the cheek and opens the mouth to feed
Sucking: sucks when the roof of the mouth is touched
Grasp: curls the fingers around anything placed in the palm
Moro (startle): throws out the arms and may cry in response to a sudden sound or movement
Stepping: appears to take steps when held upright with feet on a surface

Supporting development day to day

You do not need special equipment or routines this month. Everyday care does most of the work. Talk and sing during feeds and diaper changes, hold your baby close, and let them see your face.

Give short periods of supervised tummy time while your baby is awake and you are watching. This helps build neck and shoulder strength over the coming weeks. Always place your baby on the back to sleep, on a firm flat surface with nothing soft in the crib.

Hold your baby and respond to cries to build trust
Talk, sing, and make eye contact during awake times
Offer brief, supervised tummy time when awake
Always put your baby on the back to sleep

When to call your pediatrician

Milestones are ranges, not deadlines, and one quiet day does not mean a problem. Still, some signs are worth a call. Contact your pediatrician if your baby does not react to loud sounds, does not feed well or seems very hard to wake, rarely moves the arms and legs, or seems unusually stiff or floppy.

Trust your sense of your own baby. If something feels off, raise it at the next visit or sooner. Acting early gives any concern the best chance of support, and most of the time you will simply get reassurance.

Quick answers

Is it normal that my newborn sleeps almost all day?: Yes. Newborns often sleep 14 to 17 hours across a full day, usually in short stretches around feedings. Frequent waking to feed is expected in the first month. Tell your pediatrician if your baby is very hard to wake for feeds or is feeding poorly.
Why does my baby startle and throw out their arms?: That is the Moro or startle reflex, a normal automatic response to a sudden sound, movement, or feeling of falling. It is a sign the nervous system is working and usually fades over the first few months. Swaddling and holding your baby close can help reduce startling.
Should my one-month-old be smiling at me yet?: Many babies are not yet smiling socially at one month, and that is within the normal range. A true social smile in response to you often appears in the second month. Bring it up at your well visit if you have not seen a social smile by around two months, since your pediatrician decides what is on track.

Sources & further reading

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This article was written against current AAP, CDC, and WHO guidance and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. ParentFlow is a wellness companion — not a substitute for your pediatrician. For medical concerns, always consult a qualified healthcare provider.