Teaching newborns to use senses

Donya Betancourt, Pediatitian/drdonya@hotmail.com

Your newborn may seem to do little more during their first few weeks of life other than eat, sleep, cry and provide dirty diapers. But, in fact, all of his/her senses are functioning, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of this new world.

It's hard for us to know exactly what a newborn is feeling but if parents pay close attention to their baby's responses to light, noise and touch, they can see complex senses beginning to come alive.

Sight

New babies can see best at a distance of only 20 to 36 centimeters. They can also see things further away, but it is harder for him/her to focus on distant objects. Still, the light shining in from a window and movement may catch your baby's eye.

After faces, brightness and movement are the things babies' like to look at best. Although your baby's sight is functioning, it still needs some fine-tuning, especially when it comes to focusing on things far away. Their eyes may even seem to cross, which is normal, and your newborn's eye muscles will strengthen and mature during the next few months.

Your newborn is better equipped to see black-and-white pictures or toys rather than objects or pictures with lots of similar colors. Knowing that your newborn enjoys seeing could prompt you to overload your baby with new interesting sights, but just remember one item at a time is plenty.

Every time you move your baby around during the day you are providing a change of scenery that your baby enjoys and needs.

Hearing

Your newborn has been hearing sounds since he/she was in the womb, but after birth the real world sounds come in loud and clear and may startle the baby at unexpected times, such as when the dog barks or the phone rings. Soft music and rhythmic sounds may be soothing to your newborn.

Parent's voices are typically a babies favorite sound because they mean food, love and affection. If your baby is crying and you start speaking softly, your voice is soothing even if he/she cannot see you.

Your baby may not be able to coordinate sight and sound, but babies are paying close attention to familiar voices.

Taste and Smell

It is assumed that newborns can smell because we know they can taste, and these are the two most closely related of the human senses. Research on new babies has shown that they prefer sweet tastes from birth and will choose sweet tasting substance and reject bitter or sour drinks.

Mother's milk and formula is any baby's favorite flavor. As for smell, just think about all the new smells that your baby comes into contact with during the course of one day: clothes, linens, cooking, perfume, so be wise in choosing your laundry detergent and soaps.

Touch

It is through touch that your baby learns a lot about the new world surrounding him/her. The warmth of a smooth blanket and the firmness of a mattress are much different than the warmth and comfort of the womb.

The strength and security in a firm cuddle is comforting for your baby, as is the loving caresses from mom and dad. It is in these loving laying on of hands that your baby learns about his/her new world, so be generous in the attention you give your baby. Smother your newborn with kisses and love.

Home Testing

If you just want a little reassurance that your baby's senses are working well, you can do some unscientific testing for yourself.

Hold a small light just out of your baby's direct line of vision, about a foot away from his/her face. He/she should turn to look at the light, which indicates that your baby can see it.

If your baby's eyes seem to cross or diverge more than just briefly, point this out to your doctor. Usually no intervention is necessary, but sometimes medical correction will be required.

Also tell your doctor if your baby's eyes appear cloudy or filmy, or if they appear to wander in circles as they attempt to focus.

Having a newborn at home is a wonderful opportunity to experience life from a different perspective. Try treating all sights and sounds in your home like a new experience and evaluate your environment to determine if it is baby-friendly.

Dr. Donya