Newborn baby development

Newborn baby development probably starts, for most babies at least, with the move from hospital to home. Your baby is usually fine about this, but, while you are glad to be home, during those first hours and days alone with your baby, even with the support of family and friends, you can feel quite wobbly, and not just physically.

You are responsible for this tiny, precious creature. Don't be scared. Despite things being a bit hectic, enjoy this time. Before you can imagine it will be over and you will be waiting at the school gates for your very independent child.

The reality at birth

Ever since your baby was conceived all those months ago he has been developing, and right from the day of his birth this will continue apace. Not that they are all at exactly the same stage when they are born. A very premature baby for instance may need help in breathing because of immature lungs and cannot always open his eyes.

Some of the first things that happen in a new baby are things you cannot see: the closing of openings in the heart now that blood needs to flow to the lungs, the transfer from infant hemoglobin to adult hemoglobin, and a few others.

First newborn baby development areas

Your baby's eyes are not fully mature at birth - he can only focus at quite short distances at first - but this includes the distance between the face of the person feeding him and his head when he is feeding. It will take 6 months before his eyesight is fully developed with full color vision and depth of field.

At first baby relies on reflexes, for instance he will turn his head towards something soft brushed across his cheek - a necessary reflex if he is to find food.

Baby has to learn to control his head. This is why he needs support when you pick him up. Nor has he realized where his body stops and the rest of the world begins. During the next few months as this idea develops you will see him exploring his body, looking at his hands and feet and so on.

Other development areas

His stomach is still quite tiny - holding about as much as an eggcup - so it is not surprising that babies need feeding little and often.

At first babies cannot differentiate between night and day. It can be quite a while, especially in a summer baby or one living in an area with bright street lights, but the process can be speeded up by the use of blackout curtains.

Although some immunity is passed over from mother to baby of himself his immune system is quite underdeveloped. This is why it is so important that breast feeding is continued as long as possible and that all feeding equipment is sterilized before using.

How you influence newborn baby development

However small your baby he is learning all the time. This is why it is very important not to establish bad habits at times such as bed time. If you always rock your baby to sleep you will be doing this for many months to come, but if, on recognizing the signs of sleepiness, you quite quickly put your baby down in his cot and leave him to settle, then this is the pattern he will adopt.

Newborn babies cannot control their tongues and co-ordinate this with swallowing. For this reason in almost every case weaning cannot begin before 5 months of age and even then he may spit food out - not because he doesn't like it, but because he cannot work out what else to do with it.

One of the very simple, yet highly effective things you can do to encourage and stimulate newborn baby development is by using the right tools & toys described here in more detail.

Obviously there are lots more newborn baby development news. But rather than just rambling on about things we hope would interest you, why don't you tell us what you'd like to know?

Any Questions?

Any more questions about newborn baby development? Post them here. It's a great way of getting great advice and experience.

Here are a few more things of interest about newborn babies you may find helpful: