New-born: Behaviours, guidance and care

New-born’s behaviour is very different from that of an older baby and children. As they are adjusting to the outside world, they like to maintain the foetal position, clenched fists, bent hips and knees and arms and legs held close to the front of their body. 

For many first-time parents, they may be unaware of the behaviours normally shown by a new born. It is important for the parents to know about their new born baby behaviour, how to manage that effectively and what they can expect.

New born behaviour: Know the normal aspects 

A normal new born behaviour for the first few months typically consists of crying and sleeping for the long hours and eating. Other behaviour aspects include hiccup, sneeze, cough, spit up, burp and gurgle. 

The posture for the first few weeks can be similar to that of a foetal position in the womb, which gradually changes with the baby’s development. 

The reflexes can include ‘the sucking reflex’, the instinct to suck when an object is placed in its mouth, ‘the grasp reflex’ in which they tightly closed their fingers around an object placed in its hand and ‘startle response’ which is sudden throwing out of arms and legs and then quickly bringing them back to their body. 

The breathing pattens in new born is irregular, that is they can stop breathing for 5-10 seconds and then again start breathing. This pattern usually occurs during the sleep and is considered normal but if it stops breathing for more than recommended time period or if it starts turning blue, then the parents should immediately seek medical attention.

 New born crying: Causes and effective management 

A new born usually cry and fuss for 2-3 hours a day for the first 6 weeks and the crying gets intense during the first 3 months or at about 6-8 weeks. Some new born can cry for longer time period than recommended. The baby crying typically signals to hunger, tiredness, need for burping, overstimulation, diaper change, need for comfort or even sickness. 

The long hours of crying can get frustrating and overwhelming for the parents but they can definitely handle it by – Taking a break to calm the mind before soothing the new-born, making sure that the baby is not hungry, needs diaper change or sick, reducing the stimulation by lowering the noise and other activities and dimming the lights, wrapping the baby in a blanket and humming a soft calming tune and taking the baby for a ride in pram or sling. 

In case the crying persists for the longer hours than usual or if the crying pattern is abnormal, try contacting the doctor for help.