What do newborns think about? During the first few weeks after birth, it might seem that your baby does little more than sleep, cry, and feed. But research tells us that there is much more going on. The newborn brain is busy processing information, searching for patterns, and learning.
Children's minds are sensitive to what is occurring around them but are not conscious, as they are not yet able to reason or memorise like an adult. The first ideas that enter a baby's head are linked to bodily experiences: hunger, cold, comfort, sleep, etc.
Babies are born with a number of innate social and cognitive capacities, which prepare them to begin building both their brain and their mind, from birth.
They Are Trying to Communicate
As early as three months, babies learn to recognize their parents or primary caregivers. And there staring is their way to communicate. Babies can't quite interact yet for the first few months, so their staring is their way of communicating with you.
Are you wondering, what do babies dream about? Good question, but the answer is… nothing! The “character of the self” hasn't even made an appearance yet!
This is how your baby's brain grows. There is a lot of activity happening in their brain during light sleep, and their body often reacts to this stimulation by moving, twitching, making lots of noises and facial expressions including smiles.
In short, yes: Babies do feel love. Even though it will be quite a while before they're able to verbalize their feelings, they can and do understand emotional attachment. Affection, for example can be felt.
One of my favorite things to do is show mothers how their baby can smell them from as far away as 1 to 2 feet.
Studies have shown that by three months of age your baby can discriminate between their mother's face and the face of a stranger.
#5: Your Baby Can Feel Lonely
For the first time in their existence, they experience physical separation from their caregivers. After constantly hearing a heartbeat and being 'held', being put down for long periods of time can be quite scary and lonely. Some infants will go down easily and seem content to be alone.
“Your baby will start to understand when they are separated from you,” says Dr. Hoang. And when they do, they may want to be with you again—in other words, they will miss you. Unfortunately, the development of object permanence is also the first step toward babies developing separation anxiety as well.
Your newborn baby's hearing
Your baby will pay close attention to sounds from birth, especially high-pitched ones. They'll also respond to familiar noises, such as your voice, or a lullaby you play or sing to them often. They may startle at unexpected or loud sounds .
Babies may enter the world with brains that appear unsophisticated, but they absorb and understand more than we realize. Babies notice, process, and file everything adults and children around them say and do. Most of their learning occurs through their senses.
Researchers believe that these earliest smiles represent the pleasure of the baby recognizing an object (such as Mommy or Daddy) [2]. By two months, infants begin to develop the smile that communicates their emotional experience of pleasure and contentment.
Most common baby fears
In newborn babies, common baby fears include loud noises, falling, separation from parents, and strangers. At this stage, babies can't distinguish between objects accurately enough to be scared by looking at them. However, loud noises trigger the startle reflex.
When do babies recognize their father or mother? Babies can recognize their parents pretty early actually – as young as 4 days old. By making eye contact with your baby during feeding times, cuddle sessions and throughout the day, you're helping your child memorize your face and learn to trust you.
When infants display anger and aggression, it is often due to discomfort, pain or frustration. Older babies will use aggression to protect themselves, to express anger or to get what they want. When your baby is aggressive, it is because he has not learned a better way of behaving.
Of course there are always exceptions to any rule – some babies crave their own space. But for the most part, babies sleep best when they're next to their mothers.
Kissing your baby will change your breast milk
When you kiss your baby, you are sampling the pathogens on her skin, which are then transferred to your lymphatic system where you will produce antibodies to any bugs. These antibodies will then pass through your breast milk to your baby and boost her immune system.
Babies love to be held, touched and reassured that you're there, so settling in a cot on their own can often be difficult for them. Your baby's missing your touch and attention, and they're letting you know about it (NHS, 2019). From their very first hours of life, babies will cry when separated from their mothers.
Cuddling and a Sense of Security
Your child will feel safe and warm. “Cuddling helps your baby develop a secure attachment to you.
Expert opinions about when babies can first understand language vary, but one thing is for sure: Babies are able to understand what you say to them well before they can speak any words. Babies respond to noises and familiar voices from birth. They respond conversationally, by crying, cooing, and laughing.
Babies often prefer their primary caregiver
Most babies naturally prefer the parent who's their primary caregiver, the person they count on to meet their most basic and essential needs. This is especially true after 6 months when separation anxiety starts to set in.