The Newborn Baby

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The Newborn Baby
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Weight and Length

• 7 pounds
• 20 inches long
• Males heavier on average
• Baby loses weight for the first 4-5 days after
  birth, due to loss of fluids
• Head is ¼ of the length

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Fontanels

• 6 soft spots on the skull where the bones have
  not yet fused together, covered by a tough
  membrane
• Head may be misshapen , but the soft spots allow
  it to return to a normal appearnace in a few days

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Sensory capabilities

• Sight
• Sees best at 8 inch distance
• Likes to look at human face
• Follows a moving target with eyes
• Responds to light
• Likes to look at patterns with sharp outlines and
  contrasts of dark and light

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Sound

• Sensitive to voices
• Prefers high pitched voices
• Turns head toward sound
• Tries to focus on the source of a sound

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Touch

• Sensitive to touch
• Comforted by closeness, warmth, touching
• Responds to changes in air temperature
• Responds to pain, rough textures, and moisture

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Taste Smell

• Puckers lips after a strong flavor
• Breathes faster and kicks when smelling strong
  odors

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Communication

• Cries, coos, and smiles
• Responds to parents moods and feelings
• Develops attachment to caregivers-bonding

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Reflexes of the newborn

• Rooting-stroke cheek of baby and he will turn his
  heard toward the hand, open mouth and start
  sucking
• This is a survival instinct that helps baby find
  food and prepare for feeding

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Grasping reflex

• Grasps on to finger, necklace or hair of
  caregiver, tight enough to hold his own weight

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Startle reflex

• If put down suddenly or if someone makes a loud
  noise, baby will throw out his arms, draw back
  his head and stretch out his legs

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Swimming reflex

• Makes swimming movements in the water when bathed

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Babinski reflex

• Extends his toes when the soles of the feet are
  stroked.
• Others-blinking eyes, coughing, emptying the bowl
  or bladder when they are full.

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States of the Newborn

• Quiet alert
• Awake and content
• Eyes wide open
• Eyes try to focus on object
• Enjoys interesting environment
• Maintains state if full, warm and dry

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Active-Alert

• Movement increases
• Moves arms, legs, body, face
• Kicks and cries

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Crying

• Way of communicating his needs
• Cry of pain- followed by holding the breath
• Hunger cries usually start with whimpering, then
  become more intense

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Drowsiness

• State between being awake and asleep
• Movement may occur
• Facial expressions may change
• Eyes do not focus

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Quiet sleep

• Sleeps soundly
• Noises dont disturb him
• Does not move much
• Breathes deeply and evenly
• Newborns spend about ½ their time in quiet sleep.

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Active sleep

• Eyes may flutter
• Movement is common
• May smile, frown, suck, chew
• May make funny snorting noises

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