Newborns are born with an immature nervous system. The pathways that carry the signals from the brain to the parts of the body aren’t yet fully developed, so their movements can appear jerky and twitchy. The jerking and twitching will become less frequent after the first few weeks of life as the baby’s nervous system matures.

• From the moment of birth infants are challenged with the task of sensory integration.
• Sights, smells, sound, lights, hunger, fatigue, movement, touch, winds, passing stools, and digesting food are all new experiences. .
• Newborn babies are unable to self-regulate and will cry when feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated.
• Understanding your baby’s cues will help to settle your baby.

These skills develop as you get to know your baby.

• Startle Reflex (Moro or embrace reflex) Brief stiffening of the body, straightening of arms and opening of hands. Often follow noise or abrupt movement. Disappears around 3 months.
• Tonic-neck reflex: When head is turned to one side, the arm and leg of that side straightens and the opposite arm and leg flexes.
• Palmar grasp reflex: Infant closes hand and grips your finger. Hands are often in fists.
• Babinski reflex: Toes fan outward when sole of foot is stroked.
• Placing: legs extend when sole of foot is touched
• Rooting and suckling: Infant turns head and open mouth wide in search of nipple when cheek is touched and begins to suck when nipple touched the lips.
• Tongue reflex: The front to back wavelike movement that helps baby to suckle.
• Transverse tongue reflex: The baby moves his tongue to the side when he receives touch or milk on either side of the tongue.
• Phasic Bite reflex: The baby opens and closes his jaw to “bite” up and down when you apply pressure to his gums. This primitive normal jaw pattern is characterized by rapid rhythmical up and down movement of the jaw. No lateral movement of the jaw is seen. It may occur following stimulation of cheek, gums, or molars. It is usually limited in power.

Newborn babies are born with an immature digestive system.

It is common to have symptoms of gassiness, reflux, and winds.

However, these symptoms can be really overwhelming for any parent. It is important to consult a lactation consultant or paediatric nursing practitioner should you are battling to cope.

A lot of the over-counter “quick fix” remedies are not recommended for newborn babies. It is best to see a qualified health care professional for advice and practical help.

• It is normal for breastfed babies to have 2-3 wet diapers during the first 2-3 days. As the mother’s milk increases the urine output will increase.
• The first stool “meconium” will be passed as baby consume colostrum during the first 2-3 days. The stool will appear black to dark green.
• As the “mature” breast milk comes in the poos will change colour to yellow or yellow-green colour. It is not abnormal to have a green stool. The consistency of the poo will be soft or even runny.
• Babies should have about 2 -8 soft bowel motions every 24 hours during the first 6 weeks. Some babies will have fewer larger poos.

If a baby younger than 6 weeks has fewer than 2 bowel movements a day, that can still be a variation of normal if baby has an adequate number of wet diapers, and is gaining sufficient weight, and the stools are substantial in volume.

• Watch out for signs of jaundice.
• Asses breastfeeding for good milk transfer, audible swallowing, and nutritive sucking.
• Wake infant for frequent feeds and switch breasts if fallen asleep.
• Avoid timing if the duration of the feed. Rather watch out for good nutritive sucking.

• Newborns need 16-18 hours sleep in 24 hours.
• Their sleep-wake cycle interacts with the need to feed.
• Newborn babies sleep cycles are irregular.
• It is not abnormal to appear active during sleep.