Each baby develops at his own pace and comes with a unique personality, but there are lots of things to look forward to when it comes to raising a baby boy. Infant boys and girls have many similarities, but there are some things you might want to know ahead of time about boys, whether you're expecting a baby boy or already have one and are eager to find out what's in store for you and your little one.
Significance
Even as small children, boys and girls think and act differently. Baby boys and girls differ from each other from the get-go. All babies can be a challenge, but if you are expecting a boy or already have a boy infant and want to know what you have to look forward to, there are several things to keep in mind.
Theories/Speculation
Boys and girls are different from each other in utero, and not just because of their anatomy. Testosterone shapes the development of the male brain. This testosterone production allows for the development of male sexual organs late in the first trimester. Boy babies are born with as much testosterone as a 25 year old man, according to The Baby Center, though their level will drop shortly after birth and not surge again until puberty. Some research indicates that the region of the brain that controls emotion and language is larger in girls than boys. It has long been noted that girls and boys fare differently in certain tasks, but there is still more research to do for brain development both in and out of the womb, so there is no specific stereotype of a brain, and you may watch your little boy defy or contradict previously set ideas.
Considerations
There are many things to look forward to as babies grow. Like all newborns, boys will spend most of their time sleeping and eating, and at the start you will need to keep an eye on their umbilical cord stumps until they fall off. Eventually the little man in your life will be able to see better, develop a stronger grip, sleep well enough for you to establish a routine, and hit you with a gooey smile, usually by 8 weeks old. His eyes will start to shift to their real color after a few weeks.
Considerations and Challenges
Boys don't express much fear from the beginning, and will respond fairly well to noises and other stimuli. However, boys can be easily agitated and emotional. Boys don't self-soothe as well as infant girls do. Another little surprise is how challenging boys can be to change. During diaper changes, boys often urinate as soon as their genitals are exposed, so it is important to keep the old diaper up so that no extra cleanup is involved.
Theories/Speculation
Don't let the more taxing parts scare you. Little boys do well with friendly faces. They prefer moving objects to still ones, such as windshield wipers and fans. They learn early on how to keep track of moving objects, like the motion of a ball rolling across the floor. Also, when "given the choice, newborn boys would rather look at a mobile than a single face," says Parenting.com. Girls typically talk before boys, but boys are likely to walk before girls and have several more developed motor skills. Even before boys can pull themselves up and take those first steps, they tend to squirm, kick their legs out, and wiggle around in the months before they start walking. Boys, like girls, simply start to walk when they are ready to, but on average boys can walk with some assistance between 11 and 13 months. Boys typically begin to speak between 13 and 14 months of age, and do certain gestures such as waving bye-bye or playing hand games usually a little after baby girls do.
Significance
So many things about your little boy are not determined by his gender, but rather by his disposition and willingness to do things at his own pace. All babies are different. Enjoy your baby boy and his development, and be sure to treasure each milestone in his life.
