Source: bing.comTable of Contents
Introduction
Having a newborn baby is an exciting and overwhelming experience for new parents. As a parent, you may wonder what senses your baby has from birth. A baby’s senses are the key to their development and help them to understand the world around them. Understanding what senses your newborn baby has from birth can help you to better understand and interact with them. In this article, we will discuss the first sense that newborn babies develop and how it impacts their development.
The First Sense: Touch
The first sense that newborn babies develop is the sense of touch. A newborn’s skin is very sensitive, and they can feel different textures, temperatures, and pressures. Touch is an essential sense for newborns as it helps them to feel safe, secure and comforted. When a newborn is held and cuddled, it can help to soothe them and make them feel secure.Newborn babies also have a rooting reflex, which means that they will turn their head towards anything that touches their cheek. This reflex helps them to find the breast or a bottle for feeding. As your baby grows, they will continue to develop their sense of touch, and it will become more refined.
How Touch Impacts Development
The sense of touch plays a crucial role in a baby’s development. Research has shown that touch can impact a baby’s physical and emotional development. Skin-to-skin contact, such as holding and cuddling your baby, can help to promote bonding and attachment between you and your baby. It can also help to regulate your baby’s body temperature, heart rate, and breathing.Touch is also essential for a baby’s brain development. The stimulation of touch can help to develop the neural pathways in the brain, which can impact a baby’s cognitive and social-emotional development. A lack of touch and stimulation can lead to developmental delays, so it’s essential to provide your baby with plenty of opportunities for touch and sensory experiences.
Other Senses
While touch is the first sense that newborn babies develop, they are also born with the ability to hear, see, and taste. Newborns can recognize their mother’s voice and smell, and they can differentiate between different tastes. However, these senses are not as developed as their sense of touch.A newborn’s sense of hearing is also very sensitive, and they can recognize familiar sounds, such as their mother’s voice or a lullaby. Newborns can also see, but their vision is blurry, and they can only focus on objects that are within 8 to 10 inches of their face.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the first sense that newborn babies develop is the sense of touch. This sense is essential for their development and can impact their physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. As a parent, it’s essential to provide your baby with plenty of opportunities for touch and sensory experiences. Holding, cuddling, and skin-to-skin contact can help to promote bonding and attachment between you and your baby, as well as regulate your baby’s body temperature, heart rate, and breathing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the first sense a baby develops?
A. The first sense that a baby develops is the sense of touch.
Q. How does touch impact a baby’s development?
A. Touch plays a crucial role in a baby’s physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. It can help to promote bonding and attachment, regulate body temperature, heart rate, and breathing, and develop neural pathways in the brain.
Q. What other senses do newborn babies have?
A. Newborns are also born with the ability to hear, see, and taste, but these senses are not as developed as their sense of touch.
Q. How can I provide my baby with sensory experiences?
A. You can provide your baby with sensory experiences by allowing them to explore different textures, temperatures, and pressures through touch, sight, and sound. You can also engage in activities such as singing, reading, and playing with toys that stimulate their senses.
Q. Why is touch important for a baby’s brain development?
A. Touch can help to develop the neural pathways in a baby’s brain, which can impact their cognitive and social-emotional development.