Unbelievable Facts About Newborns: Understanding Your Baby's Bizarre Behaviors
Entering parenthood can be fraught with curiosity, excitement, and occasional puzzlement. Babies, with their seemingly odd behaviors, may seem perplexing, but they are merely navigating their way in a new world. Knowing what to expect can help parents to appreciate these unique behaviors. Take a journey with us as we explore some unbelievable facts about newborns – a fascinating blend of science, trivia, and sheer wonder.
The Intriguing World of Newborns: Their Unusual Characteristics
Newborns are fascinating creatures with some behaviors and characteristics that seem unusual, but are actually completely normal. For example, newborns have no kneecaps. Though they do have a structure in place of kneecaps, these are made of soft cartilage and don't develop fully into bone until the child is around 3-5 years old.
Another surprising feature of newborns is that they are more likely to be born with blue eyes. Regardless of genetic determiners, many newborns exhibit blue eyes due to the lack of melanin production, which aids in the development of pigmentation.
Newborns and Their Mysterious Reflexes
Do you know that newborns come equipped with survival reflexes? Some reflexes, such as the root and suck reflexes, help the baby to feed. The Moro or startle reflex, which occur if the baby feels as though they are falling, is a primitive defense mechanism. Another unusual one is the walking or stepping reflex, where a baby appears to take steps or dance when they are held upright with their feet touching a flat surface.
The palmar grip reflex is another fascinating one where a newborn can grasp onto objects very tightly. It’s hypothesize that this reflex is a remnant from our primate ancestry, ensuring the baby could hold on to its mother.
The Unique Bond: Smell and Taste Preferences
Newborns have a unique bond with their mothers through the power of smell. A baby’s sense of smell develops early and by the time they are a week old, they can recognize the smell of their mothers. This scent recognition plays an integral role in the mother-infant bond and also helps to comfort the baby.
Newborns also seem to have a sweet tooth. Research suggests that babies have a preference for sweet flavors from birth, courtesy of the amniotic fluid they have been swallowing inside the womb. The amniotic fluid is flavored by the food choices of the mother, so a penchant for sweet tastes can start in utero.
The Superpowers of a Newborn
These seemingly delicate creatures surprisingly possess some superpowers. Babies have natural swimmer abilities, albeit brief ones. Until around 6 months, babies are naturally able to hold their breath under water and paddle with their arms and legs, a phenomenon known as the swim reflex.
Next is their super-human strength. On a weight-to-strength ratio, babies are actually stronger than an ox. This 'superpower' comes from a super-efficient muscular structure and higher ratio of fast-twitch muscle fibers.
Conclusion: The Incredible Journey of Newborns
The journey of newborns is nothing short of incredible. In spite of appearing helpless, they are born with instincts, reflexes, and abilities necessary for survival. Embarking on the journey of parenthood, be prepared to experience and appreciate these bewildering behaviors and 'weird' anomalies. These unbelievable facts are just part of the awe-evoking process that is the birth and growth of a human life. By taking time to understand your baby’s behaviors, you'll undoubtedly tighten the beautiful bond between you and your newborn.
