Chapter 5

The newborn

NEWBORN PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Very small, 5lb +

• Puffy facial features

• Head molding

• Fontanelles

• Vernix caseosa

• Head is disproportionately big – ¼ of length

• Helpless appearance prompts adult nurturing

NEWBORN GROWTH PATTERN

Development proceeds according to growth gradients:

Cephalocaudal – from head downheads and brains grow faster than legs and feet

Proximodistal – from center of the body outtrunks and internal organs grow most rapidlylimbs, hands, and feet are last to develop

SLEEPINGNeonates sleep 16-20 hours out of 24 ∙ in short

naps of 2-4 hours∙ escape from stimulation∙ stress (cortisol levels) reduced during sleep

As they grow, babies sleep longer and stay awake longer ∙ usually sleep through night by 6-7 months ∙ much individual variation in sleep patterns

More sleep time = more REM sleep possible explanation: autostimulation theory

VARIATIONS IN SLEEP PATTERNS

Genetic differences in biological clocks are related to: ∙ birth weight ∙ frequency and type of parent-child interaction ∙ mother’s age

Cultural differences in sleeping practicesif they sleep w/adults, as in many cultures, babies may sleep more soundly, longer

PSYCHOLOGICAL STATES

Levels of arousal and alertness: Sleep – eyes closed; not easily arousedRegular (still and quiet)REM (body and eyes may move) Drowsiness – between wake and sleepAlert – quiet and attentive to environmentAwake and active – flail limbs, move headCrying – make loud, distressed sounds

Movement from level to level varies widely

ALERT AND CALM AWAKE STATES

Most critical states for development ∙ exploring the world

. exercising senses and motor abilities

Long periods of upset/crying interfere with normal time for development ∙ meet infants’ needs promptly ∙ soothe and help them learn to self-soothe

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN ALERT AND AWAKE STATES

Culture Infant Adult Interactions

Caucasian more easily perturbed and excitable

respond more quickly to upset

Navajo quiet and alert most of time

less verbal and more passive

African American more active when awake much time in physical

play

REMEMBER: INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

CRYING

• Universal way of communicating needs

• Adults in all cultures are agitated by crying

How important is it to respond right away to babies’ cries?

Myths: - babies get spoiled if parent responds right away - babies need to cry

Research Early responsive parenting results in:- babies who cried less in 2nd 6 months - babies who cried less and communicated more effectively at age 1

Responsiveness to some kinds of crying is more important than to others (fussiness)

Varied responses, some of which may be just social: TALKING, PLAYING, GETTING CLOSEThese works as well as feeding or snuggling

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN PATTERNS OF RESPONSIVENESS

Hypotheses to explain why in some cultures quick responding didn’t result in less crying:‘Quick responding’ may not mean the same thing to people in all cultures

Excessive crying may not be viewed as bad in all cultures

Swaddling and constant carrying related to very little crying at allAsian, South American, Native American

BREASTFEEDING

Research-supported advantages to babies:Major health benefits:lower rate of respiratory infections,asthma, tooth

decay, leukemia, obesity

Reduced risk of infant mortalityLonger time of breastfeeding is linked to:

6 months + = higher scores on intellectual, verbal, and motor ability in infancy, childhood, and adulthood

WHO BREASTFEEDS?

Everyone until industrialization in 20th century made bottle feeding possiblebecame a symbol of modernization

Most babies in the world are breastfedMost prevalent in less-developed countries

Most common among middle-class Euro-Americans than lower SES African American or Latino

Most important for babies in underdeveloped countries

REFLEXESDefinition:

universal involuntary movements biologically built into all babies’ nervous systems

Usefulness:∙ survival ∙ diagnostic tool (in cases of brain damage, prematurity, low SES)∙ some promote bonding (grasping, rooting)

Examples:

Grasping – lessens by 4 mos.; develops into fine (small) motor abilitiesMoro – startle reflex with arms; disappears by 4-6 mos.Rooting – turning head with open mouth to stroking of cheek;

develops into purposeful eating movementsSucking – when lips touched; becomes refined with growthWalking (stepping) – steps when foot touches surface; disappears

at 3 mos.

EXPLORATION

Definition: Active and thoughtful study of the worldResearchers know that infants:Explore their world with all their senses

Recognize and distinguish sights and sounds

Get bored with familiar sights and sounds

Habituation allows researchers to study infants’ exploration behaviors

HABITUATION

Definition: When newborn babies study an object or a sound for a period of time, they appear to become familiar with it, finding it less interesting and exciting

Behaviors that indicate habituation: ∙ looking away at something else∙ showing less excitement in body movements

Habituation is a sign that infants are learning about things in their world.

HABITUATION IN RESEARCHHow researchers measure infant learning:

Rapid sucking = interest in somethingSlow sucking = habituation (lack of interest)

Speed of habituation differs culturally:

Chinese American/Japanese American/Navajo > Euro-American

African American and Euro-American > Puerto Rican

Adults need to adjust introducing new stimuli according to what each infant needs.

BABIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Some babies are born with conditions that require special attention so that they can develop normally.

Causes of these challenges to development can be either:

• genetic

• environmental influences during pregnancy:

GENETIC DISORDERS

Some can be detected before birth by:amniocentesis = by 12th week

chorionic villus biopsy = by 9th week

Examples include:

Down syndromeTay-Sachs diseaseCyctic fibrosis

GENETIC DISORDERS

After birth, a neonatal assessment can diagnose other problems:Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) measures babies’ inborn behaviors:

- reflexes- states of consciousness- responses to stimuli- soothability

ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS

teratogens = harmful agents from outside that affect the baby before birth

(ex.thalidomide, chemical weapons, drugs, tobacco, alcohol)fetal alcohol syndrome

brain damagebirth defectsirritability and inability to be sootheddelays in motor functioningless responsiveness to stimuli

Prematurity and low birth weightPrematurity = < 5.5 pounds

birth before 36 weeksExtremely vulnerableHigh mortality rateImmature reflexes

Can result in parents being less responsive

↑ for low SES, particularly:teenage mothers

underrepresented groups

NEWBORN HEALTH PROBLEMS

Illnessmore common among low SES and some underrepresented groups

Exs: bacterial meningitis cystic fibrosis sickle-cell anemia

Anemiachronic iron deficiency anemia is fairly commonespecially among African Americans and Latinos

SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME

(SIDS)Leading cause of death for infants under 1

1:360Causes are unknownMay cover many different causesAt greatest risk:

- sleeping on stomach

- smoking, cocaine, heroine- poverty- African American and Native American