It can be exciting to have a newborn baby enter the family. Over the months, this baby will grow from being a newborn into a toddler. A baby is considered a newborn for the first three months of his life. Newborn babies have certain characteristics at the time of birth and develop socially and physically as they gain senses and abilities. There are things parents can do to help ensure newborns develop well.
Newborn Characteristics
You may notice how your newborn baby holds his legs and arms close to his body at the time of birth. This curled up position (commonly referred to a fetal position) is a natural one for new babies as that is how we grow in our mother's womb. A newborn does have developed senses of smell, sound and taste.
Social Development
During the first three months of life, newborns are interested in remembering and understanding your face. They do not yet realize that they are a separate person, however. Newborns are not aware of who feeds them, and cry whenever they feel tired or hungry. They can feel, but are not capable of conscious thought. Newborns can smile by the time they are five to seven weeks old. They are able to laugh by the time they are three months old.
Physical Development
Babies often lose weight during their first few weeks of life; this is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. Newborns have an undeveloped sense of sight. In their first two months, they are attracted to primary colors, dots, patterns, stripes and bright lights. During their first two months, newborns have no control over the way they move their bodies. They pull, grasp and suck out of their reflexes rather than as conscious movements. It takes newborns almost two months to start making noises other than crying.
Considerations
According to the Victorian Government Better Health Channel, a medical and health website, you can make a mobile and hang it up for your child to support the development of your baby's curiosity. Other activities the Channel suggests you do with your newborn include singing to her, playing music, rocking her and holding her as much as possible. You can also stroke her on different parts of her body.
Warning
All newborns develop at different rates. However, there are some signs you should be aware of in your newborn, as they could indicate that he has a developmental problem. These warning signs include not getting startled by noise, being exceptionally placid and quiet, unusually stiff or flexible, always holding fingers in a tight fist and long periods of crying accompanied with a lot of difficulty in going to sleep.
