Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Newborns That Will Surprise Parents

This incredible ability may make us wonder about the true ancestors of humans, possibly living underwater. Each newborn has a survival skill comparable to that of a professional swimmer. This is known as the "bradycardic response" (also called the diving reflex).

It works like this: When babies under 6 months old have their faces submerged in water, they naturally hold their breath, without the risk of choking like those who can't swim. During this time, the baby's heart rate slows down to conserve oxygen, and blood circulation focuses on vital organs like the heart and brain. Sadly, this ability fades as the brain gradually takes control of all bodily responses over time.

Additionally, when babies are placed face down in water, they instinctively paddle their arms and kick their legs. Although they can't lift their heads to breathe, the combination of the diving reflex and their natural movements allows them to stay afloat for some time without choking.

Sleeping with eyes open is a completely normal phenomenon, so there's no need for parents to worry. It's known as nocturnal lagophthalmos and typically occurs when children are between 12 and 18 months old.

According to a study, children who sleep with their eyes open may inherit this trait genetically. If one or both parents have the habit of sleeping with their eyes open, there's a high chance that the child will inherit it as well.

The second, rarer cause, could be a sign of facial nerve damage, caused by a tumor or thyroid issues. If you notice that your child has been sleeping with their eyes open for an extended period, it's advisable to consult a doctor.

Have you ever tried to swallow and breathe at the same time? Give it a go, and you'll quickly realize it's something you can't do. However, a 6-month-old baby can breathe and swallow simultaneously.

Humans are the only mammals unable to breathe while swallowing. Other mammals, and even non-mammalian species, can breathe while eating. In fact, newborns have this ability, which allows them to breathe while nursing, but this capability fades by the time they reach 9 months old, when the larynx begins to mature.

Người trưởng thành có 206 chiếc xương, chiếm khoảng 15% trọng lượng cơ thể. Một sự thật khó tin đó là những đứa trẻ sơ sinh lại có số xương nhiều hơn người lớn. Những chiếc xương đó đang phát triển và thay đổi hình dạng mỗi ngày.

Ước tính bộ xương trẻ sơ sinh có khoảng 300 chiếc xương. Mặc dù xương có vẻ ngoài cứng nhưng chúng thực ra được tạo thành từ mô sống và canxi. Chúng trải qua quá trình tích tụ cũng như thải bỏ trong suốt cuộc đời của bạn.

Trẻ em có nhiều xương hơn bởi chúng cần phải lớn lên. Xương dính vào nhau khi chúng ta lớn dần lên là nguyên nhân khiến số lượng xương bị giảm. Và qua tuổi trưởng thành, chúng ta sẽ khó có thể cao hơn được bởi lớp đĩa sụn tiếp hợp đã hết. Nhưng chúng ta vẫn có thể khỏe hơn vì độ cứng và độ dày của xương vẫn sẽ tiếp tục phát triển.

Newborns spend nearly the entire day sleeping. This is because their brains consume up to 50% of the glucose they intake to support brain development. As a result, babies tend to sleep a lot. Getting enough sleep is essential for their growth and cognitive development. According to doctors, newborns only wake up when they are hungry or need to use the bathroom. The rest of the time, they are asleep, partly because they are not yet accustomed to external light and partly because they are used to keeping their eyes closed as they did in the womb.

The benefits of sleep for newborns include:

• Growth in height during sleep.
• Brain development.
• Supports central nervous system growth.
• Promotes emotional well-being.
• Helps build a strong immune system.
• Good sleep can make your baby more active and engaged with their surroundings.

The patella, or kneecap, is a small bone located in the front of the knee joint, protecting the knee. It is quite hard and prone to fractures. It can break or cause complications during childbirth.

This is why newborns don't have a patella. Instead, they have soft cartilage in place of the kneecap. Over time, this cartilage gradually hardens into bone, and by the age of three, it begins to be replaced by bone. This is why babies tend to crawl using their hands rather than using both their hands and feet.

While a baby is still in the womb, she is exposed to the mother's estrogen. After birth, the hormones in the child's body quickly decrease, which can result in "withdrawal bleeding," resembling a small phase of menstruation similar to adult women’s cycle. This phenomenon is completely harmless and normal.

This event typically happens within the first one or two weeks, most often on the fifth day of the girl's life. You may observe a white vaginal discharge right before any bleeding occurs.

If the baby experiences prolonged or excessive vaginal bleeding, it is important to consult a doctor for further evaluation as this could be a sign of an underlying bleeding disorder.

At around the fourth month of pregnancy, the baby will begin growing hair. These hairs will gradually lengthen and spread across the body in the following month. However, before birth, these hairs will fall off, and the baby will consume them.

By the time of birth, the hairs will be fully digested and turned into meconium - the first stool of the baby, which is dark greenish-black, thick, sticky, and almost like engine oil. It is formed from amniotic fluid, skin cells, mucus, and other elements digested in the womb. This is the first poop of the baby’s life.

The precursor to the eyes consists of two small grooves that appear on the embryo by the 22nd day of pregnancy. From here, the optic nerves form and eventually the eyes develop. Since the nerve cells in the retina and brain that control vision are not fully developed, the baby is unable to differentiate between colors. The baby can only see black, white, and gray and can only focus on objects within a range of 20 cm to 40 cm. It is not until a few weeks after birth that the baby starts to perceive color differences and a larger field of vision.

Some studies suggest that newborns can distinguish basic colors like red, blue, and green. However, the baby cannot tell apart similar colors such as red and orange. This means the baby can recognize certain colors but cannot differentiate between similar shades.

Newborns cry frequently after birth: they cry when hungry, when they're tired, or when they're uncomfortable. Mothers often face these crying bouts, which can last from 15 to 20 minutes. However, if you observe closely, you will notice no tears falling. This happens because the tear glands of newborns are not fully developed at birth. Sometimes, their eyes may appear moist due to the tear glands only being able to produce enough fluid to slightly moisten the eyes. This may continue for the first two months.

Experts say that the tear ducts in newborns produce only small amounts of fluid initially, just enough to lubricate and protect the eyes. Therefore, the baby will not produce excess tears that would flow from the corners of their eyes when they cry. The tear glands begin to function properly only after three weeks of age.