A 1 day old baby is already doing more than most people realise. They recognise your voice from the womb. They root for milk within minutes of birth. They startle at sudden sounds and can briefly focus on your face. Development starts immediately, and it moves fast. This guide walks you through the key milestones from birth to toddlerhood, with practical must-haves at every stage.
What to Expect From a 1 Day Old Baby
In the first 24 hours, your newborn is busy. Their senses are firing. They can smell you, hear you, and feel the difference between skin and a blanket. Their vision is blurry beyond about 20 to 30 centimetres, which is almost exactly the distance from your breast to your face. That is not a coincidence.
Newborns communicate entirely through cues in those early hours. Rooting, sucking on hands, turning the head and making small mouthing movements are all hunger signals. Crying is a late hunger cue. Watch for the early signs and feeds tend to go more smoothly.
Their stomach is roughly the size of a marble on day one. Small, frequent feeds are exactly what they need. Colostrum, that thick golden milk, is perfectly sized for it.
Skin-to-skin contact in the first hours supports temperature regulation, helps establish milk supply, and calms both of you. If you are planning your hospital bag or setting up at home, our guide to what to buy before baby arrives covers what actually earns its place in those early days.
Newborn Milestones: The First Three Months
Development in the first three months is rapid. Each week looks different from the last.
Weeks 1 to 4
- Lifts head briefly during tummy time.
- Responds to familiar voices, especially yours.
- Startles at loud or sudden sounds (Moro reflex).
- Begins to focus on high-contrast patterns.
- Sleeps 16 to 18 hours a day, in short stretches.
Weeks 4 to 8
- First social smile appears, usually around 6 weeks.
- Holds eye contact for longer periods.
- Starts to make cooing and gurgling sounds.
- Tummy time tolerance improves.
Weeks 8 to 12
- Follows moving objects with their eyes.
- Reaches toward objects, even if they miss.
- Recognises familiar faces and reacts differently to strangers.
- Sleep windows begin to extend slightly at night for some babies.
For ideas on how to support these milestones at home, our newborn activity ideas article has practical, low-effort suggestions that fit around feeds and naps.
Safe Sleep in the Early Months
Safe sleep is worth getting right from day one. Red Nose Australia recommends babies sleep on their back, on a firm and flat surface, in a safe cot, in the same room as a carer for the first six to twelve months.
Keep the head and face uncovered at all times. To check if baby is comfortable, feel their tummy or back. Cool hands and feet are normal. If they feel hot, sweaty or clammy, remove a layer. Dress baby as you would dress yourself for the room.
Wrapping can help settle newborns. Red Nose recommends lightweight cotton or muslin wraps. Stop wrapping at the first signs of rolling, or at 3 months, whichever comes first.
Nothing soft should share the sleep space in the first months. Red Nose prefers nothing in the sleep space for the first 12 months, and recommends waiting until at least 7 months before introducing any soft toys or comforters.
Must-Haves From Birth to Three Months
The newborn stage does not require a house full of gear. A focused, well-chosen set of basics is far more useful than a cluttered nursery.
- A safe cot or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress.
- Cotton or muslin wraps for settling and wrapping.
- Enough bodysuits and sleepsuits to survive multiple nappy changes and spills in a day.
- Soft, breathable layers that are easy to put on and take off.
- A change mat and a good stock of nappies and wipes.
- A baby carrier or sling for hands-free settling and close contact.
Fabrics matter more than you might expect in the early weeks. Bamboo and cotton blends are soft, breathable and moisture-wicking, which suits a baby whose temperature regulation is still developing. Our 0 to 3 months baby starter kit collection brings together the pieces most used in those early weeks, without the overwhelm.
Milestones From Three Months to Toddlerhood
After the newborn stage, development shifts gear. Here is a rough map of what to watch for.
3 to 6 Months
- Rolls from tummy to back, then back to tummy.
- Grabs and mouths objects.
- Laughs and squeals.
- Starts to show interest in solid food (usually around 6 months, check with your GP or child health nurse).
6 to 12 Months
- Sits unsupported.
- Crawls or bottom-shuffles.
- Pulls to stand.
- Babbles with intention, starts to wave and point.
- First words may appear toward the end of this period.
12 to 24 Months
- First steps, usually between 9 and 15 months.
- Vocabulary grows from a few words to short phrases.
- Begins to show preferences, frustration and independence.
- Parallel play with other children starts to emerge.
Every baby moves at their own pace. The ranges above reflect typical development, not rigid timelines. If you have concerns about your baby's progress, Raising Children Network has detailed, age-by-age guidance, and your maternal child health nurse is always a good first call.
If you are still building your newborn kit, our complete newborn essentials buying guide breaks down exactly what to buy, what to skip and what to borrow.
