Video

Study Guide

Senses

• Senses such as sound begin to develop before birth.
• Many of these senses are not matured yet.

Hearing

• Fully developed in newborns.
• Moms may feel their babies kick or respond to loud noises.
• Babies often get a hearing test when they are born in the hospital.
• Babies prefer higher-pitched tones such as mom’s compared to lower-pitched tones such as dads.

Sight

• Newborn babies cannot see very well.
• Eyes are not well-coordinated.
• May be cross eyed.
• Babies can only focus up close, about 8-10 inches.
• Parents should get up close to their baby when interacting with them to bond.
• Takes about 2 to 3 years for a baby to develop their 20/20 vision.
• Babies can better distinguish contrast (such as black and white) compared to colors.

Smell

• Babies are believed to have a strong sense of smell, such as for their mother.
• Studies have shown babies to be able to distinguish between breastmilk and formula.
• Seems that babies can recognize the smell of their familiar caregivers.

Taste

• Babies prefer sweet compared to sour or bitter.
• Babies prefer breastmilk over formula.
• Babies cannot taste salty flavors.

Touch

• Babies loved to be cuddled, held, swaddled, and comforted by touch.
• Swaddling is considered safe for SIDS because babies can be put on their back and they are not able to roll over.

Vestibular

• Babies respond to rocking motions.
• Can be calmed by them.
• Newborns may enjoy car rides.

• Thinking about a baby’s senses helps you to understand their skills.

Nursing

• Newborns have their rooting and sucking reflexes to help grow.
• Learn to coordinate the suck-swallow breathing pattern.
• Sucking strength is not strong.
• Can drink exclusively breastmilk or formula.
• Should not be fed water as it can cause an electrolyte imbalance.
• May nurse every 2-3 hours.
• Newborns need help with burping the air out.

Bowel and Bladder

• Incontinent and pee or poop in their diapers.
• Total assist from caregivers.

Communication

• Crying
• Cry or not cry.
• Don’t intentionally start to smile yet.

Movement

• Need full support while being held.
• On their backs, they may stay there and move their arms and legs with uncoordinated movements.
• When propped up to sit or for burping, newborns tend to kick into extensor tone and straighten out.
• Newborns can begin belly time, but won’t be able to really lift their neck up or use their arms to push from the surface.
• Movement for newborns are primarily driven by their reflex patterns, which are present at birth.

Newborn Reflex Patterns

Reflexes present at birth

• Feeding
  • Rooting – the head turns when side of mouth is touched.
  • Sucking – sucking occurs when lips are touched by nipple or finger.
• Arms and legs
  • Palmar and plantar grasp – fingers and toes flex when touched.
  • Stepping – alternating steps when supported upright with some weight on the feet.
  • Moro Reflex – when the baby is tipped back and their arms extend, they abduct out and then flex afterward with adduction.
  • Placing of arms and legs – hand and legs flex and then extend when they are placed on a tabletop.
  • Tonic Labryinthine – when the baby is on their back and their head tilts back, it causes them to stiffen up and arch backwards.
• These reflexes generally fade beginning at 2 to 3 months.