Newborn babies’ brains do a lot of work. They are working at twice the rate of adult brains. Newborn babies are constantly absorbing the environment and they listen to sounds and voices and they are processing the facial expressions and tones of their parents. Newborn babies do more than eat and sleep! However, newborn babies are often different than what people expect them to be.
Here is a list of things that you should know about newborn babies.
- Newborn babies can see and track objects or faces that are within eight to ten inches of their eyes.
- Newborns have the ability to hold onto things that are placed in their palms.
- Newborn babies can tell which direction a voice or sounds is coming from and turn their heads towards it. Newborn babies recognize the voice of their parents.
- Newborn babies have the ability to feel pain. They can also sense when a caregiver is stressed. Newborn babies greatly respond to how they are being handled.
- Newborn babies can taste and they prefer sweets! If your newborn baby tastes something that is salty or sour they will make a face.
- Newborn babies will cry to communicate. They will have a special cry to communicate their different needs. One cry may represent hunger, while another may represent illness or being wet. With time parents learn their babies’ cries and know what the infant needs.
- Newborn babies will sleep between 15-20 hours each day. Their sleep cycle is only about two hours long. This means they will be getting their caregivers up to tend to their needs.
- Newborns have a built in “startle reflex” that works even when they sleep. This reflex will be activated when the baby hears sudden and expected sounds or feels sudden or unexpected movements.
Many people have a great expectation of what newborn babies will look like. Many people are shocked to see that newborn babies aren’t all rosy cheeked and wide-eyed. The simple truth is newborn babies may look a little odd.
Many newborn babies will have a slightly misshapen head after birth. A newborn’s head can also seem very large and not in proportion with their little body. Most newborn babies will not have the clear and wide-eyed expression. Most newborns will have some puffiness around their eyes.
Some newborn babies are born with eyes that appear slightly crossed, too. This is a shock to some new parents. In addition, some newborn babies may have folded down ears and scratches on their faces. All of this is normal. Newborn babies have been through a big adventure as they passed from the womb through the birth canal into the world.
The appearance of newborn babies will change over the first few weeks of life. Their heads will round out around fourteen days. Eye puffiness will start to fade and eye coordination and ear strength will improve. Newborn babies will start to gain weight. If your baby was thinner than expected at birth, he or she should steadily gain weight after the first week or two.
If you are expecting a baby and you have never been around newborns before, you should stop by the nursery at your local hospital to see what they look like. You can also take classes on newborn care to learn how to handle and manage a newborn.
