Newborns put their hands up due to reflexes like the Moro (startle) reflex, which causes them to throw their arms out for protection, comfort preferences (feeling secure), temperature regulation (dissipating heat), and as a normal part of exploring their bodies and surroundings, showing excitement or seeking attention, all typically fading as they develop motor skills.
Most babies hold their hands or fingers out in what adults consider unusual positions. This is a standard way of exploring their bodies and surroundings. As a part of their neurotypical development, babies are supposed to raise and reach their hands up, grasp, and point.
As someone else has said, it's called the Moro reflex. If startled the baby reflexively (no thought involved, no voluntary actions) swings up and out their arms. The fingers also usually extend. There is a second part to the reflex which is when the arms are quickly brought back in and the fingers clasp.
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
A child at risk for autism might move their hands, fingers, or other body parts in an odd and repetitive manner. Some examples are: arm flapping, stiffening arms and/or legs, and twisting of wrists. At around 9 to 12 months, infants usually begin “baby talk”, or cooing.
Early Signs of Autism in Newborns
Vigilant parents may notice unusual facial expressions or a lack of responsiveness to social cues in their newborns. Furthermore, a preference for routine, while common in all babies to some extent, may be more pronounced in infants later diagnosed with ASD.
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.
No bowel movement in the first 48 hours. A rectal temperature over 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) or less than 97.5 degrees F (36.5 degrees C). A rapid breathing rate over 60 per minute, or a blue coloring that does not go away. Newborns normally have irregular respirations, so you need to count for a full minute.
The hardest week with a newborn is often considered the first six weeks, especially weeks 2-3, due to extreme sleep deprivation, constant feeding demands, learning baby's cues, postpartum recovery, and a peak in inconsolable crying (the "witching hour"), making parents feel overwhelmed as they adjust to a new, exhausting routine. While the first week is tough, the challenges often intensify as the baby becomes more alert but still fussy, with major developmental hurdles like cluster feeding and increased fussiness peaking around 6-8 weeks.
The newborn 5-5-5 rule is a postpartum guideline for new mothers to focus on healing and bonding in the first 15 days home, dividing rest into 5 days in bed, followed by 5 days on the bed, and then 5 days near the bed, encouraging minimal chores, visitors, and activity to prioritize recovery from childbirth and establishing the new family unit, drawing on traditional postpartum rest practices.
The 5-3-3 rule is a loose guideline for structuring a baby's sleep schedule: 5 hours of wake time before the first nap, 3 hours of wake time before the second nap, and 3 hours before bedtime.
The risk for SIDS is increased predominantly for the prone sleeping position. The lateral sleeping position shows an increased risk intermediate between that for prone and supine sleep for both usual and last sleep, but neither increase is significant after adjustment for potential confounders.
Babies keep their arms up while sleeping when they are newborns often due to the Moro reflex, which is an instinctive response to a feeling of being startled or unsettled. This position can also provide comfort and security, mimicking the position they were in while in the womb.
Hand flapping — the repeated up and down movement of a child's hands — is often a topic of concern amongst parents, especially when it comes to potential links to developmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
If baby has clenched fists, does that mean they're hungry? While fist clenching in babies is instinctual and may be a sign of hunger, it's not a guarantee. Rather than focusing on clenched fists as a sign of hunger, look for more reliable cues, Ahmed says, such as baby smacking their lips or rooting.
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
The first hour after birth, the “Golden Hour”, when a healthy baby is calmly placed skin-to-skin on the mother's chest, not only facilitates a smooth transition from the womb to the outside world, stabilising the baby physiologically, but also offers a unique opportunity for the mother and baby to connect emotionally ( ...
It can last a few minutes to a couple of hours. For most babies, the witching hour starts to occur around 2-3 weeks and peaks at 6 weeks. It will typically completely resolve by 3-4 months.
These include:
Symptoms of colic
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
Additionally, inherited genetic variations contribute greatly. Research shows that both mothers and fathers can carry autism-related gene variants. Some of these are common variants that increase the risk of autism, while others are rare mutations causing more severe effects.
Changes in the diagnostic criteria and increased screening at wellness visits seem to be the main contributors.