Your bundle of joy comes with many quirks, which you are probably familiar with by now. But did you know about these ones?
- Your baby’s inner ear is the only sense organ that is fully developed before birth, reaching its adult size by the middle of pregnancy. Just 10 minutes after birth she can work out where a sound is coming from.
- Your baby has a great sense of smell and at one week can recognise your unique scent. This is why it is advisable to use unscented products which won’t irritate your baby, and avoid perfume and deodorant which will mask your comforting smell.
- At birth, your baby has no kneecaps. These will only develop after 6 months.
- Until your little one is 4 months old, she will be unable to taste salt. The delay is thought to be due to the development of kidneys, which start to process sodium at about that age.
- Babies love touch, and it is good for them too. Touch stimulates the production of growth-promoting hormones. In one survey, premature babies who were touched regularly showed 47 % more weight gain. Your little one is no different, so carry on cuddling!
- When born, your baby will cry to keep her eyes moist (basal tearing) or as a reflex to an irritant (reflex tearing). Tears from emotional distress only manifest between 2 and 4 months of age and are called psychic tearing
- You should expect intentional smiles from your bundle of joy between 4 and 6 months of age.
