How to Understand a Newborn's Viewpoint

What does she smell, hear and feel? How is she making sense of the world? Watch for clues, and understanding your newborn's view of the world can be relatively easy. (The following information has been adapted from Dr. Segal's book series, Your Child at Play.")

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Clocks
• Lullaby CD's

1. Remember that your newborn has two major means of communicating: smiling and crying. Crying reflects discomfort or pain; smiling reflects a state of calm.
2. Learn if your baby is soothed by steady sounds, such as a clock ticking or the whirr of a washing machine, or if she prefers music, a lullaby or the soft tones of your voice.
3. Know that even before she was born, she could hear and see; babies in the womb will turn toward a light and react to music and loud noises.
4. Watch her blink her eyes when an object comes near her face or when you turn on a bright light.
5. Know that her taste buds are in action. She will reject a drop of water that tastes bitter, salty or sour, but accept one that's been sweetened.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that all babies develop at different rates, usually with spurts and plateaus.
• Consult your pediatrician if you are worried about your newborn's behavior or development.