Newborn Capabilities
All senses begin developing during the prenatal period and become functional before birth. Some senses are more advanced in their development than others, but there is no doubt that the newborn can hear, see, taste, smell, and respond to touch.
Infant States
Infant states are different levels of consciousness used to regulate the amount of stimulation an infant receives; states range from crying to deep sleep. Newborns spend most of their day asleep, and it is normal for them to sleep 16 to 18 hours out of the day. About half of this time is spent in REM or rapid eye movement sleep which is light sleep where the eyes open and close where dreams occur during a regular sleep to a deep sleep in which the infant is quiet and doesn't move. When infants are awake, they can be in a state of quiet alertness in which their eyes are open and they are attentive to what is going on around them but they are very still. Active alertness is when the infant is alert to what is going on but they are moving around.
Infant Mortality
Infant mortality is the rate of infant death within the first year of life.
All senses begin developing during the prenatal period and become functional before birth. Some senses are more advanced in their development than others, but there is no doubt that the newborn can hear, see, taste, smell, and respond to touch.
Infant States
Infant states are different levels of consciousness used to regulate the amount of stimulation an infant receives; states range from crying to deep sleep. Newborns spend most of their day asleep, and it is normal for them to sleep 16 to 18 hours out of the day. About half of this time is spent in REM or rapid eye movement sleep which is light sleep where the eyes open and close where dreams occur during a regular sleep to a deep sleep in which the infant is quiet and doesn't move. When infants are awake, they can be in a state of quiet alertness in which their eyes are open and they are attentive to what is going on around them but they are very still. Active alertness is when the infant is alert to what is going on but they are moving around.
Infant Mortality
Infant mortality is the rate of infant death within the first year of life.
SIDS
Sudden infant death syndrome is the unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant; the rate of SIDS peaks between the ages of 1 month and 4 months. Unfortunately, we do not understand the cause of SIDS. There probably never will be a simple explanation because the cause is likely to be a number of factors including some physical vulnerability of the infant, some stressor in the environment, or a chemical brain imbalance. Put an infant down to sleep on his or her back to reduce the chance of SIDS occurring.