Now that your little bundle has arrived, welcome to the baffling world of parenting and searching for answers to random questions for the rest of time. We've got the answers to eight common newborn queries you've no doubt already considered.
Do Babies Dream ?
While some researchers believe babies experience some form of rudimentary dreaming, most neuroscientists believe their brains need time to develop before they're capable of self-awareness and the abstract thinking required to truly dream.
Can Babies See Colour?
Babies in the womb can tell the difference between light and dark, and newborns can see contrast between black and white shapes. It's not until they are several weeks old that they will be able to see their first primary colour—red. It's generally believed that babies can see the full spectrum of colours by the time they reach five months of age.
Why Do Babies Look Cross-eyed ?
Some newborns seem to have an off-kilter gaze soon after birth, which can be concerning to new parents. Not to worry, though. This is a perfectly normal—and common—newborn characteristic.
Some babies are born with extra folds of skin in the inner corners of their eyes or a wide-bridged nose, giving them a cross-eyed appearance until they grow into these features. You may also notice your baby's eyes don't always move in unison, but again, this is normal as your baby's brain and eye muscles develop and learn to coordinate their movements.
Fortunately, these things are rarely anything to worry about and a baby's eyes typically straighten out by four months, but if you're concerned, it never hurts to consult your child's doctor.
Do Babies Recognize Voices?
Researchers have long known that a newborn recognizes, and even prefers, their morn's voice. This makes sense as Mom's voice is the most significant sound your baby hears in the womb, and your baby can already recognize it from the third trimester! With continued exposure, your baby will also start to recognize and form a preference to their other parent, as well as other close family members and friends.
When Will My Baby's Eye Colour Be Set?
The colour of a baby's irises depends on a protein called melanin, which is also responsible for hair and skin colour. Specialized cells in our bodies called melanocytes are responsible for secreting melanin and typically, the most significant changes in eye colour occur anywhere from three to nine months, with most babies having their permanent eye colour by 12 months. Of course, there are always exceptions and occasionally a child's eye colour can continue to darken up to six years of age.
Why Do Newborns Smell So Good?
As research has shown, that mesmerizing newborn baby aroma is very real, and as it turns ouL it's a nifty little biological trick for keeping babies alive and well.
Scientists have learned that for women, the scent of a newborn stimulates the parts of the brain that recognizes reward and pleasure, helping to forge a strong mother-to-infant bond.
Why Do Newborns Smell So Good?
As research has shown, that mesmerizing newborn baby aroma is very real, and as it turns out, it's a nifty little biological trick for keeping babies alive and well.
Scientists have learned that for women, the scent of a newborn stimulates the parts of the brain that recognizes reward and pleasure, helping to forge a strong mother-to-infant bond.
As to what exactly causes that intoxicating newborn smell, no one knows for sure. Some researchers speculate that it comes from their sweat glands, or that it's the lingering scent of amniotic fluid or vernix caseosa—the white, creamy substance that coats babies to protect them in utero.
Why Do Babies Poop When They Eat?
You'll quickly find it's best to wait until after mealtime for a diaper change, as breast milk is not only easy for babies to digest but is actually considered a natural laxative!
Babies who are breastfed often poop immediately after. if not while they're eating. Generally, formula-fed babies have bowel movements less frequently than breastfed babies, but all babies are different and this isn't always the case. In the early weeks, babies may poop during or after every feed, but as time goes on and their stomach grows, they may settle into a different routine.
Why Do Babies Fight Sleep?
At some point or another, all babies will fight sleep—even when it's clear sleep is what they need most. They're rubbing their eyes, fussing and yawning, and yet are seemingly refusing to doze off. Why?
There are a few reasons why babies fight sleep but the most common one is that they are simply overtired. Babies tend to have a "sleep window" during which they are primed to fall asleep, and if they are awake too long, they can become frantic, fussy and downright cranky, naturally making it even more difficult for them to succumb to the sweet, sweet zzz's.