Newborns initially can only focus on things that are about 12 inches away which is why they are fascinated by their mother's face. They can imitate facial expressions and can stick their tongues out in imitation of their parent's behavior.
They also enjoy looking at bright colors and contrasts. Socially infants are amused by their parent's voices and can actually recognize their mother's voice from the sounds they heard while in utero. They enjoy voices more than music or noise at this time in their growth and development.
Newborns have limited motor abilities. They cannot purposely put their fingers or hands in their mouths. They have jerky movements that are uncoordinated.
As the newborn's brain develops over the first three months it becomes easier for them to focus on large objects that are farther away. They can begin to purposely turn their heads when they hear their mother's voice. At this time they begin to coo and giggle. They start to smile and become socially interactive.
Now is also the time that babies start to put fingers in their mouths and perhaps suck their thumbs. Overall babies at four months old have more developed sensory, social, motor and physiological capabilities.
Understanding your baby's "Fourth Trimester" is crucial to understanding why in "The Happiest Baby on the BlocK", Dr. Karp's 5's help to soothe the newborn and why these 5's initiate the calming reflex.
During the first three months of life the newborn's brain grows another twenty percent in size. There are many changes in the neural pathways that lead to the baby developing more complex purposeful behaviors. The newborn reflexes will now diminish and disappear and will be taken over by purposeful behaviors.
Next:" Imitating the Uterine Environment for Your Newborn".
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