The Newborn

The Baby Book Chapter 5

Why do babies cry at birth?

So their lungs will fill with oxygen

How much control does a newborn have over her

muscles?

None.

The baby had no exercise in the womb.

Phrases describing the appearance of the newborn at birth:

• Hair from bald to thick and long

• Nose short and flat

• Shape of Head elongated

• Ears pressed to the head

• Eyebrows barely discernable

• Eyelashes hardly noticeable

• Cheeks fat

Newborn descriptions continued:

• Chin receding

• Neck extremely short

• Chest narrow

• Shoulders sloping

• Abdomen large and protruding

• Legs usually bowed

• Fingers tiny

Newborn descriptions continued:

• Skin blotchy and wrinkled

• Average Weight 7 ½ pounds

• Average length 20 – 21 inches

• Body proportions head looks too large

• Bones are soft and supple

• Muscles are soft, small and uncontrolled

What are the fontanels?•The soft spot on the top of the head.

•They allow the head to pass through the birth canal.

•They allow the brain to grow in the skull before fusing together.

•There is not special care, but baby’s head should be protected.

Newborn Sense of Sight

• The newborn’s eyes are functioning from the moment of BIRTH.

• The two eyes don’t always work together right away because the MUSCLES are not well developed.

• The newborn’s eyes are sensitive to LIGHT. • The newborn’s eyes FOCUS best at a distance of 8 – 12

inches. • When looking at things, they prefer moving objects to

STATIONARY ones. • By the age of three weeks, the HUMAN FACE is what

newborns like to watch most.

Newborn Sense of Smell and Taste

• The sense of smell and taste are WELL DEVELOPED at birth.

• Two or three days after birth babies will cry and turn their heads away from STRONG unpleasant odors.

• A baby soon learns to recognize its MOTHER by her smell.

• Babies can tell the difference between FLAVORS within two or three days of birth.

• Babies will reject a BITTER flavor and accept a SWEET flavor.

Newborn Sense of Hearing

• The ability to HEAR develops even before birth.• Newborns will turn toward the SOURCE of a sound.• If a man and woman both speak at the same time.

Newborns will turn toward the FEMALE voice.• Babies respond readily to HIGH PITCHED sounds. • MUSIC and HUMAN VOICES tend to be favorite sounds

of newborns.• They also like soft, rhythmic sounds such as the sound

of a human HEART BEAT.

Newborn Sense of Feeling

• Newborns can feel changes in TEMPERATURE at birth.

• They can also distinguish TEXTURES • In the first days after birth, they can feel PAIN.• From the moment of birth, newborns are

extremely sensitive to the touch of PEOPLE.• HOLDING and CUDDLING have been found to

enhance a baby’s overall development. • Physical contact also tends to strengthen the

emotional BONDING between baby and the parents.

Rooting Reflex

Food seeking behavior: When the baby’s cheek is touched, the baby will move her head toward the source and open her mouth for sucking

Grasp Reflex

When a baby’s palm is touched he closes his hand strongly. This reflex is gone by the 4th month.

Startle Reflex

This reflex is set off by any sudden, intense stimulation.

The baby spreads his arms and legs out and then brings them back together as if hugging someone.

7. What is the greatest need of a baby during her first year of life?

LOVE, so the

child can

learn to

trust

LOVE, so the

child can

learn to

trust

How can a parent satisfy the need for love?

By meeting a baby’s needs promptly and lovingly

By meeting a baby’s needs promptly and lovingly

How can the primary caregiver help a child develop trust in her environment?

• Caring

• Mothering

• Nurturing

• Feeding

• Cuddling

9. What is likely to happen to a baby who never has his cries answered?They may grow up to be “wooden” people –

they don’t seem to connect.

When trying to communicate with people it’s like a long distance call with a really bad connection.

10. At what age do most babies begin to be afraid of strangers?

6 and 9 months

When this happens, what learning has taken place?Baby has learned to

trust his parents, but recognizes that others may not be trustworthy.

11. Why is the first year of life such a critical time as far as learning is concerned?

11. Why is the first year of life such a critical time as far as learning is concerned?• The baby is intensely curious and learns

everything through the five senses to begin with.

• The amount of intellectual development that takes place is incredible!

• Language is a prime example: at birth the primary form of communication is crying, by age one they are saying words, responding to verbal suggestions and able to identify many things.

• The baby is intensely curious and learns everything through the five senses to begin with.

• The amount of intellectual development that takes place is incredible!

• Language is a prime example: at birth the primary form of communication is crying, by age one they are saying words, responding to verbal suggestions and able to identify many things.

12. What is considered to be the best sleeping position for an infant?

On their back.

13. Fill in the blanks:

When holding a newborn, parents should be sure to give firm support to the newborn’s head and neck. Most newborns sleep about 18 to 20 hours a day. Most newborns prefer to sleep on their stomach. As they sleep, newborns should be warm and dry. Parents do not need to tiptoe and whisper while their babies are asleep. To prevent suffocation, pillows should not be used and blankets should be used with caution. Feeding times provide opportunities to enhance parent-child relationships. If breast feeding, keep the breast from pressing against the baby’s nose so the baby can breathe freely while nursing. If bottle-feeding, hold the baby in a semi-upright position. Burp the baby once or twice during feeding and again after feeding. Newborns need 6 to 8 feedings in a 24-hour period. It is important that a baby be bathed in a room that is warm and draft free. Never leave a baby alone on a table or in a tub. The best way to prevent cradle cap is to thoroughly wash and rinse the scalp daily. Babies grow quickly and garments that fit at birth will soon be too small. As smart parents shop for baby clothes, their main concern is the baby’s comfort. Cotton is an excellent fiber for baby clothes. Diapers are the baby’s most essential clothing item. The key to preventing diaper rash is cleanliness. Generally it is good for parents to respond promptly and consistently to their newborn’s cries.

Being One