Newborns may seem asleep most of the time but when they are awake they are already actively exploring their immediate environment with all their senses. They take in an enormous amount of information in order to settle in their new world. Here you will find out how your new baby develops physically and emotionally.
Baby's physical development:
- Newborns can focus on objects that are less than one metre away.
- They are fascinated by human faces which they prefer over objects.
- New babies can already recognize their mother's voice after less than one week because they had plenty of time to get used to it in the womb.
- When laying on their front or their back, young babies have their heads turned to one side.
- When laying on their front, newborns usually tuck their knees under their front while raising their bottom.
- Newborns cannot hold their heads yet, so when a baby is pulled into a sitting position, the head lags.
- New babies usually hold their thumbs tucked in under their fingers.
- They open their eyes when held upright.
- They also turn their head towards shiny objects or the light.
- Newborns also blink as a reaction to sound and movement.
- They are interested in patterns and shapes, whereas they show a clear preference for contrasting and primary colours.
- New babies' hearing is very sensitive, as a result of which they cannot hear very soft sounds.
- When breastfed they can already distinguish the smell of their mother's breasts.
- Young babies are naturally very sensitive to sudden movements and change of position, especially when it is affecting their neck.
- They also show a clear preference for sweet tastes over salty tastes.
Baby's emotional development:
- Newborns are already active communicators: they use total body movements to express pleasure or discomfort.
- They show clear signs of joy when being fed and cuddled.
- Young babies attempt to imitate facial expressions.
- When being talked to, they may react with a concentrated expression at first, then a smile at a later stage.
When do babies start smiling? The answer is Babies typically start smiling at around 6-8 weeks of age. However, it is important to note that every baby is different, and some babies may start smiling earlier or later than others.