Neonatal Characteristics Response
Babies from birth until one month of age are the most delicate times of an infant’s life. Neonates, as they are referred to, develop necessary adaptation to their new environment after birth. These are also challenging moments for the mother as she tries to understand her newborn. The neonatal age is very unpredictable and varies from one child to the other. However, there are a few common characteristics in all neonates and will be the center of our discussion for this article (Fiore et al., 2014).
The appearance of a newborn is described through feature by feature examination of their face. An impression of a yellowish skin is a condition called Jaundice. A child’s appearance varies with unique body proportions and traits. It is never a wonder to have babies differing in shapes and sizes. A newborn baby has inner knowledge of body reflexes and responses (Kawafha, 2018). It can turn its head, cry when startled, grasp its fingers, and suckle milk from her mother. These are the visible physical reflexes, but there are other millions of reflexes that help them survive the new environment before they adapt to it. A baby can portray both verbal and non-verbal cues developed innately to help them perceive and communicate in their new world.
A newborn can use their five senses; see, hear, taste, touch, and smell through insights, a parent’s capability to understand if their children have any form of impairment with their senses. A baby learns very fast through their five minds that they do through being taught. A child is born without any motor skills, either gross or fine motor skills. The gross motor skills include muscle movement, while subtle movement is the coordination of eyes, hands, legs, and other coordinating organs (Fiore et al., 2014). However, these physical developments are developed very slowly but steadily until the child can use physically move.
Children’s growth within the first week from birth is the adaptive and adjustive moment where their naturally built instinct meets the new environment for survival (Kawafha, 2018). Each child was baring unique cues allowing them to communicate with their caregivers and the world around them.
References
Fiore, L. B., Ramkissoonsingh, R., & Hotham, L. (2014). Lifesmart: Exploring human development. W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library.
Kawafha, M. M. (2018). Parental stress in the neonate intensive care unit and its association with parental and infant characteristics. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 24(5), 266-272.