- A newborn baby will be unable to extend her limbs. This is the result of being curled up inside the uterus throughout development. Her head may be a bit misshapen or bruised as a result of passing through the vagina during birth. Such a condition is normal among newborns and her head will return to its original shape after a few weeks. The baby also has a soft spot on the top of her head that won't start closing until nine to 14 months later.
- A newborn baby's eyesight is still not fully developed. He is able to see objects that are close to him and he may spend time observing them. He is growing considerably both in weight and size as a result of frequent eating.
- A newborn becomes more receptive to the world around it and will enjoy being carried and caressed. She will begin to recognize the face of her mother and will react to new sounds and new faces in her environment. If she displays a negative reaction and begins crying, soothe her by carrying and caressing her.
- A newborn baby will begin lifting its head and looking from side to side. He will start looking in directions where he hears sounds coming from. He will try to move frequently, which will help him develop muscles for crawling and eventually walking.
- A number of reflexes can be observed in a newborn baby. The Moro reflex causes a newborn baby to stiffen and extend her arms and legs, and cry out when she is startled. The grasping reflex will begin to develop, letting a newborn baby tightly grasp objects in her hand. One of the most important reflexes is the rooting reflex where brushing the side of a newborn baby's mouth makes her open her mouth and turn toward the side that was touched; the baby may then start sucking. This reflex enables the baby to feed on a bottle or her mother's breast.
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