Baby Sign Language Basics

It’s a version of typical American Sign Language (“ASL”) that’s simplified for baby’s hands and motor skills. It helps parents and caregivers communicate with babies who are not yet verbal or who are just starting to talk.

Benefits for Baby

1. Improves self-esteem

Some experts believe that this type of communication improves baby’s self-esteem, because it helps them feel seen and heard and shows that their parents are attentive to their needs. It’s also a confidence booster, as they’re gaining and mastering a new skill.

2. Improves mood

Because temper tantrums typically stem from the frustration of not being able to communicate their needs, this type of communication can potentially reduce the frequency and intensity of temper tantrums.

It helps you keep your calm, too, because you’re not trying to figure out what’s bothering baby and growing increasingly frustrated trying to interpret their cries.

3. May help baby talk sooner

While some experts believe that this reinforcement and repetition can help babies talk sooner, the research is mixed. One thing is certain, though: It doesn’t delay verbal skills. (source) Can’t hurt to try, right?!

When to Start Teaching It

Your baby’s eyesight and motor skills have to be developed enough for them to observe and participate.

Most babies are developmentally ready for parents to begin signing around four months, though baby won’t likely be able to sign back until they’re seven to nine months old.

How to Teach It to Your Child

1. Start with the familiar

What are the activities and objects that baby does or sees on a regular basis? Start there. Start by introducing signs baby will frequently use, such as “more,” “milk,” “mom,” or “dad,” so you’ll have ample opportunities to use those signs.

2. Repeat, repeat, repeat

Repetition is key. Repeat those first few signs often—even if it doesn’t seem like baby is picking up on it. You might be tempted to try a different sign if baby isn’t picking up on the first signs you introduced, but it’s important to stick to the basics. Once baby has mastered the initial 4-5 signs, then you can expand their vocabulary and add another 4-5 into the rotation.

3. Keep your cool

Don’t expect your child to master this process over night—it’s a slow process. Keep it fun and encourage baby. Praise baby when they understand and/or repeat your actions. Keep a smile on your face, and make sure that you’re holding your hands where baby can see them.

Baby Sign Language Flash Cards

These words are very relevant to baby’s routine, so you’ll naturally use them often. Remember: Repetition is key.

More

Keep your fingers straight and press your fingers to your thumbs. Then open and close your hands repeatedly with your thumbs turned towards your body. It’s kind of like making an alligator mouth, only turned on its side.

Eat

With the same hand shape used in the sign for “more,” turn your fingers to face the sky and tap them repeatedly against your lips.

Hungry

Press your palm flat against your chest, under your chin, and slide it down to your belly. Think of your hand following the path that food makes.

Milk

If you’ve ever milked a cow, you’ll recognize the sign for “milk.” Think of milking an udder. Make a fist with your hand, thumb facing you and fingers tucked behind your thumb, and open and close it as if milking a cow.

Water

Think “W” for water. The sign for water is done by making a “W” with your three middle fingers, pressing your pinkie and thumb together out of sight, and tapping your hand against your chin.

Please

When your baby has learned the signs for “eat,” “milk,” and “water,” you can move to asking them to say “please” before fulfilling their request. Simply press the palm of one hand flat against your chest and move it in a circular motion.

Thank You

After they’ve said “please,” reward them with your thanks. Tap your fingers to your chin and then make the same motions as blowing a kiss.

All Done

Hold both hands up at chest level, fingers extended and palms facing you. Then flip them out, so the palms face your baby.

Change

This is a more complicated sign. Curl the fingers of both hands into a ball, leaving your index finger out. Tuck it into a hook shape, then cross your hands at the wrists and switch them, top to bottom, several times.

Potty

Ever played, “I’ve got your nose,” with your baby? The same hand shape, thumb tucked between your first two fingers, is used to sign potty. Form the shape with your hand and then shake it back and forth several times like you’re ringing a bell.

Bath

Form both hands into fists, then imagine an old washboard, or scrubbing baby’s back. Rub your hands vertically up and down your torso.

Play

Hang ten, dude. There’s a reason that hand shape, thumbs and pinkies extended, other fingers tucked in, became the symbol of California surfer dudes. When you make the shape with both hands and twist them back and forth at the wrists, it means “play.”

Sleep

Start with your fingers open, palm facing you, at your forehead. Then draw them down your face, closing them as you go. Think of eyes closing in sleep.

Book

Press your palms together, fingers flat, and then make the motion of opening them. Keep the bottom edge of your palms touching just like a book’s spine.

Daddy

To make the sign for daddy hold your hand up with your fingers spread. Palm facing towards the side, tap your thumb to your forehead.

Mommy

The sign for “mommy” is the same as the sign for “daddy”—the only difference is that you tap your thumb to your chin.

Dog

The sign for dog is made by putting one hand down by your leg and snapping your fingers, just like you’re calling your dog inside. Snap with your thumb and middle finger.

Cat

The sign for cat mimics the whiskers on your cat’s face. Place one hand by your mouth where a cat’s whiskers grow. Think of drawing your hand outwards, like you’re running your fingers along the whiskers, while simultaneously pinching your index finger and thumb together.

I Love You

Think of one of the most natural expressions of love—a hug. Cross your arms in front of your chest, hands balled up as if you’re hugging yourself.

Yes

How do we often indicate “yes,” even when speaking? By nodding our head up and down. The sign for “yes,” makes the same motion only with your hand. Form one hand into a ball and hold it up near your shoulder, then wag it up and down as if you were nodding your head “yes.”

Help

How often does your baby reach out their arms and ask to be lifted up? The sign for “help” is similar. Place your dominant hand, curled into a thumbs up, on top of the flat palm of your non-dominant hand. Have them down by your waist, then move them both up your body like the bottom hand is lifting the top hand.

Baby Sign Language Chart

Okay, there you have it, the top 20 baby sign language signs! To help you and baby master them, I’ve created a free, printable one page guide for you!

And Don’t Forget…

If you’re getting discouraged, take a deep breath and keep at it. Sign language takes patience and lots of repetition. Even if it seems like baby isn’t grasping the concept at first, you might be surprised when they sign “milk” out of the blue! Your hard work will eventually pay off.

The post Top 20 Baby Signs – Baby Sign Language appeared first on Mama Natural.

Clapping is more than a show of appreciation, joy, or excitement. It’s a milestone for babies that marks progress in both cognitive and motor skill development.

So when do babies start clapping? We’ll break it all down here, plus explain how to teach baby this skill.

When Do Babies Clap?

Babies start clapping between six to nine months of age.

That may sound like a big window, but babies develop at very different speeds. Plus, baby won’t learn to clap perfectly overnight—you’ll likely see varying degrees of a clap as they learn the movement.

At first, baby may imitate your clapping, but miss putting her hands together each time to finish the action. It takes time to develop arm muscles, eyesight, and coordination to bring her arms together and track the hands so they meet.

Why is Clapping Important?

They may not have known the science behind clapping games like pat-a-cake, but our grandmothers were onto something when they developed these newborn games. Clapping helps foster many important skills, including:

Fine motor skills

Once babies start to realize that their hands are connected to their bodies around 2 to 3 months, they start learning to do things with those hands such as wave, point, and clap. These are all called fine motor skills, since baby has to use the muscles in their hands and arms to create calculated and deliberate actions.

Hand-eye coordination

When the eye’s movements control or work together with the hand’s movements, it’s called eye-hand coordination. To successfully clap, baby’s eyes must track their hands from one place to another, and bring them together. This simple action is actually quite complex, but is a necessary skill to perform many basic tasks.

Concentration

To clap requires that baby focuses on their hands and on performing the action at the same time. The ability to concentrate and complete a task is an important life skill. It starts small and then builds to things in the distant future—like learning how to drive!

Cognition

Babies learn by imitation, and their first claps will probably come as a result of mimicking you. This means that baby must observe your actions and then copy them—something that requires both concentration and cognitive development.

But as they get older, around 12 months of age, baby will start grasping that clapping is a form of communication and expression. They’ll connect that you clap when you are happy or excited. This realization is an important part of their non-verbal vocabulary and—believe it or not—is one of the building blocks of verbal communication.

How to Encourage Your Baby to Clap

Encouraging baby to clap is easy: Play with baby! Here are some ideas:

Games

Clapping games like pat-a-cake work well to teach baby how to make the clapping motion. Keep a smile on your face and use a sing-song voice to encourage baby to participate.

Clapping for baby

Did baby get the block into the shape sorter on her own? Clap for her! Start clapping when baby does something good or accomplishes something. You’re teaching her that clapping is an appropriate response to an achievement.

Clapping along to songs

Miss Mary Mack, If You’re Happy and You Know It, The Hokey Pokey… there are so many songs that incorporate clapping. Sing them to your baby and clap along. You’re working on verbal skills, fine motor skills, and bonding.

Gently manually clap

Sometimes baby may need a little guidance. Sitting with baby on your lap, or in front of them, gently grasp their hands or wrists and bring them together. Try clapping first, demonstrating the motion, and then doing it for them.

What If Baby Isn’t Clapping?

Remember: All babies develop at different speeds, which is why the window for a new skill can be as wide as three months.

Before you stress out about whether or not your baby has learned to clap, focus on trying some of these ideas, and practicing with them. If baby is approaching her first birthday and, after a few days or a week, hasn’t shown any interest or hasn’t tried to clap, you might want to talk to baby’s pediatrician. Often, it’s nothing to worry about, but a call will give you valuable peace of mind.

The post When Do Babies Clap? Plus, How to Encourage This Milestone appeared first on Mama Natural.

In this post, we’ll cover:

What is Cooing?

Apart from crying, cooing is the first vocal milestone your baby will reach. Cooing is typically a vowel sound, like ahh, but sometimes cooing can sound like gurgling noises. It’s absolutely adorable, but it’s also really important: It signifies baby is starting to work on language development. 

Listen to these three videos to see how cooing can vary from baby to baby:

This cooing baby makes the ahh sound, as well as a few soft squeaky noises.

This baby is cooing, but she makes an ohhh sound instead of ahhh.

This video shows a baby who makes more of a gurgling coo.

When Do Babies Start Cooing?

Babies typically begin to coo around six to eight weeks of age. But cooing, like all milestones, can vary from baby to baby. If your little one isn’t cooing right at six weeks, don’t worry. All babies develop on their own schedule.

Remember that some babies may not make the “ahhh” cooing sound; they just gurgle instead. However, if your baby is three months old and still not cooing, you can assuage any concerns by talking with your baby’s pediatrician.

If baby isn’t cooing at all, it could be linked to a hearing problem, but this is rare. If you’re worried, you should make an appointment with your child’s doctor to rule it out. In the meantime, you can check your baby’s hearing at home to ease your nerves. When your baby is awake and alert, clap loudly. Does your baby turn to follow the sound? If so, your baby probably doesn’t have hearing problems. (source) Again, always check in with your pediatrician to confirm.

How to Encourage Babies to Start Cooing

Once you hear those first few coos, it’s infectious, and you’ll want to hear more and more. Here’s the good news: There are several ways to encourage your baby to coo and develop those language skills.

Talk to your baby

Talking—even in “baby talk”—to your baby is essential for language development. In fact, speaking in high-pitched tones (called “motherese”) to your baby helps them learn to coo, because those high-pitches and sing-song sounds highlight vowel sounds like ahhh and ohhh. (source)

Although baby coos may not sound like much like a fully-formed word to you yet, Michael H. Goldstein, an assistant professor of psychology at Cornell, says responding to your baby’s sounds provides encouragement and helps her learn new sounds and sound patterns.

Talking to your baby also gives your baby the perfect opportunity to mimic you. A study from PLOS ONE reveals that babies and toddlers actually learn new skills simply by imitating an adult. (source)

Speak clearly and often

It’s important to speak clearly, annunciate, and elaborate on what you’re seeing or doing. Remember that babies understand words long before they can ever utter one word. Speaking clearly not only helps babies to learn words, but also essential sound combinations.

• Narrate what you are doing: “Mommy is putting milk in the grocery cart” or “Mommy is going to put you in the wrap and then we will walk Fido around the block” or “Let’s make a snack for your big brother. Mommy is going cut up the carrots.”
• Don’t be afraid to use “real” words: Instead of saying “nigh nigh,” tell your baby “goodnight!”

Make eye contact and repeat sounds back

Whether your baby coos with ahhh sounds or ohhhh sounds, repeat those sounds back to your baby. Make eye contact to help your baby focus on you. Repeating the same sound over and over helps your baby learn to vocalize that sound. Interestingly, this is the same principle that explains why babies and toddlers have an easier time remembering words that repeat e.g. night night or choo choo. (source)

Sing

Mamas know that lullabies can help a baby or toddler drift off to sleep, but music can also help encourage cooing. According to researchers from the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, music helps babies process the sounds they hear.

And here’s the best part: You don’t need to stick to lullabies. You can sing your favorite songs, too. But if you need some inspiration, try these songs:

• “Baby Shark” (Of course! All those doo-doo’s will help babies learn vowel sounds!)
• “Down By the Bay”
• “This Old Man”
• “Froggy Went A-Courtin'”
• “The Farmer in the Dell”
• “Irish Lullaby: Too-Raa-Loo-Raa-Loo-Rah”
• “Baby Mine”
• “Wild Mountain Thyme”
• “Scarborough Faire”
• “The Bear Necessities”
• “Here Comes the Sun”
• “This Land Is Your Land”
• “Six Little Ducks”
• “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
• “The Bear Went Over the Mountain”
• “You Are My Sunshine”

Need a quick YouTube playlist? Check out Little Baby Bum!

Read

Cuddling up with a book is not only a cozy experience, it also allows your baby the opportunity to hear new sounds. And it’s never too early to get started (even if it seems like they aren’t paying attention). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, reading to a six-month-old baby has been linked to improved language development and increased vocabulary—even four years later. (source)

In fact, the AAP recommends that parents starting reading a book a day to child starting at birth! (source)

Need a few book suggestions? Add these books to your baby’s library!

Get out of the house and explore the world around you

Exploring the world isn’t just fun; it can help your baby develop more language skills. Imagine this scenario:

Your baby is wrapped snugly in your baby carrier as you walk through your city zoo. As you reach new exhibits, you spend a minute or two talking your baby. You might say, “Here’s the lion” or “Look at all of these parrots.” This interaction is just another opportunity for your baby to hear sounds of your native tongue over and over again. And, remember, repetition is key!

No matter where you go—the library, the grocery store, the post office—narrate your day to your baby. The more he hears, the more he learns.

What Comes Next?

It might seem futile or even exhausting to practice all of the above language tips with a newborn (who sleeps the majority of the day), but you’d be surprised just how much those little babies absorb. You’re laying foundation for when cooing gives way to babbling, around four to six months old.

The post When Do Babies Start Cooing? (Plus, How to Encourage This Cute Milestone) appeared first on Mama Natural.

Let’s discuss:

When Can Babies Have Peanut Butter?

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization, recommend that mothers exclusively breastfeed babies until the age of six months. After that point, solid foods can be introduced, whether you opt for purees or baby-led weaning. Until then, breastfeeding meets all of the nutritional needs for a baby.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, it’s safe and even encouraged to introduce peanut butter at the six month mark. In fact, waiting to introduce peanut butter can increase your baby’s risk of developing an allergy. (source)

The National Institutes of Health has also issued an addendum to support the most current research on early introduction as a method of preventing peanut allergies. (source)

There’s one caveat. If your baby is at risk for a peanut allergy…

If your baby is at risk for developing a peanut allergy, be sure to check in with your pediatrician before introducing an allergenic food.

Who is at risk?

Babies with eczema are most at risk for developing food allergies. Specifically, up to 40 percent of babies with moderate to severe eczema will develop food allergies. (source) If this sounds like your child, they may benefit from an allergy test prior to early introduction.

Why Is It Important to Give Baby Peanut Butter?

Just as important as when can babies have peanut butter is why should babies have peanut butter. Early introduction to peanut butter can reduce the chance of your baby developing a peanut allergy by up to 80 percent. (source)

About three million Americans have nut allergies, and unfortunately, nut allergies are often serious and rarely outgrown. (source) That means your best chance at preventing a food allergy is early and sustained exposure.

Because whole nuts are a no-go, that leaves just peanut butter as your option for introducing this allergen.

How to Introduce Peanut Butter Safely

Now that you know when can babies have peanut butter and why it’s so important to have early, there’s one question left to answer: how should you introduce peanuts to a baby?

Consider using a program like Ready, Set, Food!

Do not introduce whole peanuts, either plain or in a trail mix, to babies under four years of age—whole nuts are a choking hazard. Peanut butter spreads, especially chunky versions, can also be a choking hazard. So what’s a mama to do?

A program like Ready, Set, Food! is the safest and easiest way to introduce the top three allergens (peanuts, cow’s milk, and eggs) to your baby.

Simply pour pre-measured packet into a bottle (breast milk or formula), and feed baby as normal. You can use this program for six months, or more, depending on when baby begins regularly eating peanut products.

If you prefer, you can give baby a high-quality smooth organic peanut butter. Just be sure to thin it out. Here are some suggestions:

• Add a small amount of peanut butter to breast milk or formula, then stir it into oatmeal.
• Mix a little peanut butter into chicken stock or bone broth.
• Whip peanut butter and plain whole milk Greek yogurt to make a “dip” for fruit.

Go slow

Introduce only one new food at a time, every 3-5 days. This allows you to pinpoint which food causes a reaction, should a reaction develop).

Repeat!

Continue to offer peanut butter to your baby regularly. Sustained exposure is just as important as early exposure when it comes to preventing allergies. (source)

How to choose a high quality peanut butter once baby is regularly eating solids

Not all peanut butter is created equally. Splurging on a high quality jar is really important.

• Skip the chunky varieties. Those crunchy peanut pieces may be yummy, but they are a choking hazard for babies under four years of age.
• Take a hard pass on any conventional jar. Many jars of peanut butter contain sugar, partially hydrogenated oils, and even high fructose corn syrup.

When scanning labels, look for a peanut butter that is:

• Limited in ingredients: The fewer ingredients the better. (You might even want to try the freshly ground peanut butter you can get at stores like Whole Foods.)
• Free of any sugar product
• Organic
• Non-GMO

This is a great option. It’s organic, made of just peanuts and salt, and tastes great.

Remember…

Although it can be scary introducing such well-known allergens to your child, remember that the latest research proves that early introduction is is the surest way to prevent food allergies. Just go slow and try to have fun with it! And if you’re apprehensive, try a product like Ready, Set, Food!—it’s the gentlest and safest way to introduce allergens.

The post When Can Babies Have Peanut Butter? (And Why They Should!) appeared first on Mama Natural.

Read on for answers to the following questions about when can babies see:

• What do babies see at birth?
• When can babies see color?
• When can babies see clearly?
• What’s the best way to improve baby’s vision?

When Can Babies See?

4 weeks gestation

Babies eyes start to develop as early as four weeks gestation, when the optic nerve starts to develop.

8 weeks gestation

By the eighth week, baby’s eyes are in the appropriate place and his/her retina begins to form.

16 weeks gestation

Around 16 weeks, baby’s eyes are sensitive to light, though they won’t open until about 27 weeks. And even once baby’s eyes are fully developed, he/she won’t be able to see much. (If you want to know more about baby’s week-by-week development, check out my pregnancy week-by-week.)

At Birth

By the time baby is born, he/she can technically see, but everything is hazy—their visual acuity is just 5 percent of what an adult’s is. (source)

Just like walking and talking, seeing is something babies have to learn.

How Far Can Babies See?

At birth, babies can only focus on objects eight to 10 inches from their faces. (source)

Newborn vision starts at about 20/400 and slowly improves as baby gets older. By about four months, baby can begin to focus on objects further than 12 inches away and reach for them. By about six months, a baby with normal vision will have 20/20 eyesight. (source)

When Can Babies See Color?

“It’s a myth that babies see in black and white,” says researcher Anna Franklin

According to Franklin, newborns can see large, intense patches of red on a gray background. By two months, babies can identify red and green colors; a few weeks later, they can also distinguish blues and yellows. (source)

So why are black and white nursery decor and toys, like this and this, so popular if babies can, in fact, see color? Though babies do have a wider range of color vision that initially thought, colors aren’t as obvious to babies—they have a hard time seeing color unless it’s highly saturated.

When Can Babies See Clearly?

Your baby knows you and the sound of your voice well before he is even born, but things aren’t immediately clear. Here’s what to expect:

At about 2 months:

Baby will begin to recognize your facial features around two months. At this age, baby is starting to see further, can focus their eyes on your face, and is able to hold eye contact. (source)

At about 3 months:

At this age, babies will start to follow moving objects with their eyes and reach for things. They can also track objects in a vertical line and when moved circularly.

At about 5 months:

By this time, baby’s vision is developed enough that they can notice different shades of colors and can see you from afar. They’re depth perception is also improving, which will help them as they start to crawl. (Note: Crawling helps eye-hand-foot-body coordination. It’s important not to push your baby to walk too soon. According to the American Optometric Association, early walkers may not be as adept at using their eyes together as babies who crawl a lot. Read more about why baby walkers aren’t recommended here.)

At about 6 months:

By the age of six months, babies have more or less adult levels of visual acuity, vision clarity, and depth perception.

What Does a Baby See Exactly?

Do you want to see the world through your baby’s eyes? Boston Children’s Hospital developed an innovative app that provides more insight into the question when can babies see and allows you see what your baby sees at different ages. It’s called the BabySee app. Check it out; it’s a lot of fun!

How to Help Improve Your Baby’s Vision

Yes, mama, there are things you can do to improve your baby’s vision. The good news is, you are probably doing these things already, but if not, add some of these activities into your daily routine.

Alternate sides when breastfeeding

One of the benefits of breastfeeding is that your face is within your newborn’s range of vision. If you alternate sides when feeding, switching between breasts, your baby will follow your face. Switching sides encourages strong visual development in both eyes.

Get up close and personal with baby

Crawl around on the floor, and join them during tummy time! Tummy time doesn’t just strengthen their neck and shoulder muscles, it provides stimulation for brain and vision development, too. Make funny faces and noises to encourage baby to look at you and follow your actions.

Give baby high contrast items in primary colors

Baby’s show a preference for high contrast toys, even if they can see beyond black and white. Rather than hand toys directly to baby, place the toys within your baby’s range of vision—approximately eight to twelve inches away—to encourage them to reach for the objects.

Hang a mobile over baby’s crib or bassinet

To encourage vision tracking, hang a mobile over baby’s crib or bassinet. Mobiles help improve eyesight, because baby learns to follow and focus on an object as it moves.

Put baby forward-facing whenever possible

Going for a walk around the neighborhood? There are other people, squirrels, trees, cars, and so many other interesting things for baby to see. Staring at the stroller’s cloth isn’t very stimulating, and won’t help with eyesight development. Let baby observe the world around them!

Note: Avoid wearing baby forward-facing while babywearing, since there is some evidence it can lead to hip dysplasia.  

Play around in the nursery

Move baby’s crib every few months; it gives them something new to look at and sparks curiosity. Talk to them if they’re in their crib and you’re walking around the room tidying up. Your voice draws their attention, and their eyes follow.

Play peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake

Remember object permanence? Peek-a-boo is the perfect, simple game to reinforce this concept in your baby’s mind. When playing pat-a-cake their eyes follow your hand’s movements, and as they start to participate, their hand-eye coordination will improve.

Do Babies Need Eye Exams?

Your baby’s vision is checked at birth, and your pediatrician will continue to monitor your baby’s vision during routine checkups. The American Optometric Association recommends a comprehensive vision exam at six months, when babies can see more clearly.

At this time, optometrists will check:

• visual tracking,
• the eye’s response to light
• for eye symmetry and things like lazy or crossed eyes
• and even for cataracts!

Do know that unless a problem is suspected, many parents won’t take their babies for a formal eye exam until later. (For example, you may need to get their eyes examined for admittance into pre-school.)

Do Babies Have 20/20 Vision?

In general, no.

Babies who will go on to have “perfect” 20/20 vision with no need for glasses when they are older may take time to get there.

The eyes are still developing and learning to focus well into toddlerhood. For example, my son had 20/30 vision when he was 5 years old, but by 7 years old, he had 20/20 vision.

The American Academy of Pediatrics set these standards for vision by age:

• 36 to 47 months: 20/50 or above is considered passing for children 3-4 years old
• 48-59 months: 20/40 or above
• 60 months and older: 20/30 or above

So, “when babies can see” is an evolving process!

How Do You Know if There’s a Problem?

Baby’s developmental milestones, including when babies can see clearly, are general guidelines. Most children will meet these guideposts at their own pace. However, there are definitely warning signs that your baby may have vision problems. If you notice your child exhibiting the below behaviors, talk to your doctor:

• Baby experiences excessive tearing
• Baby is cross-eyed or has a drooping eye(s)
• Baby isn’t tracking objects after three months
• Baby’s eyes flutter
• Baby is overly sensitive to light
• Baby’s eyes are cloudy or look unusual

What About You?

When did you notice your baby tracking your movements and making eye contact? Did your child have any vision challenges? Share with us in the comments below!

The post When Can Babies See? The Fascinating Way Eyesight Develops appeared first on Mama Natural.

Read on to find out:

• When babies start laughing
• What baby’s laugh means
• Plus, how to make baby laugh

When Do Babies Laugh?

Though you couldn’t hear it, there’s evidence baby started laughing long before he/she entered the world! When examining ultrasounds between 24 and 36 weeks, researchers observed facial movements that can be identified as laughter.

By 35 weeks, baby can stretch their lips, lower their eyebrows, and create complex expressions. By the time baby is born, researchers say they develop the facial ability to both laugh and cry.

Despite this, you’ll be waiting a couple months to actually hear those glorious baby giggles—most babies won’t laugh out loud until 3 to 4 months. 

When do babies laugh in response to physical prompting?

When baby first starts to laugh around 3 or 4 months, it’s generally a physical response to something like tickling.

When do babies laugh in response to external stimuli?

Around 5 or 6 months, baby may begin to laugh at traditional newborn games like peek-a-boo. This shows that baby is beginning to show more logical reasoning. In order to find something like funny faces and jokes funny, baby must know what’s normal. If mama puts a clean diaper on her head, for example, baby needs to know that diapers don’t normally go on mama’s head to find this funny.

Note: If your baby doesn’t follow this timeline exactly, don’t panic. Babies hit milestones at different times, and some laugh much later than this.

Why is Laughter Important?

Now that you know the answer to the question when do babies laugh, let’s focus on why laughter is so important.

Laughter is a Sign of Learning

Other than the fact that it’s a joy to listen to, laughter indicates that baby is gathering information about the world around them and reacting to the world around them. After all, laughter and tears are our earliest form of communication. They provide insight into how the brain works at a primitive stage. Studies have shown that babies do laugh with and at other people, indicating that they’re social before they can even walk or talk.

“Smiling and laughing are indices of our understanding of the world. Adults laugh at something when they find it surprising or unusual; it is exactly the same for babies,” says Dr Caspar Addyman

Laughter is social

Adults and children relate to one another through laughter. We cheer up our friends by telling a joke or gently teasing them. Laughter is a component of social skills, and knowing when it’s appropriate to laugh or to join in, indicates your child grasps social norms.

Laughter is important for self-esteem

Believe it or not, laughter is also important in your child’s self-esteem. Studies show that children who can laugh at themselves when they make a mistake show that they can accept their imperfections and have the inner strength to keep trying. The research suggests that these children report being less lonely and happier.

How to Make a Baby Laugh

OK, we don’t want to “make” our baby laugh as this can be uncomfortable and no one likes to be tickled against their will but we can do things to encourage laughter.

Be a good role model

Babies mimic mom and dad, and they’ll eventually join in on your laughter. Create an atmosphere of laughter and joy in your home. Be silly with your baby. That one-on-one time with them not only stimulates brain development, but also deepens your bond.

Make funny noises

Blow raspberries or imitate animal sounds. The sillier, the better. Combine sound and touch by blowing raspberries on their belly.

Make funny gestures and faces

Overly exaggerate your movements and dance around the living room. Stick out your tongue, play with your lips, or raise your eyebrows.

Tickle baby

Interestingly enough, it’s not just being tickled that will make a baby laugh. It’s being tickled by someone they know. After three months old (any earlier can cause overstimulation), try tickling baby’s feet, stomach, or armpits. Just don’t overdo it—babies have very sensitive nervous systems. If baby starts to get fussy, looks away or cries, stop immediately.

Make up a song

Older babies delight in silly rhymes and nonsense words. Make up a song to a popular tune like “Happy Birthday” or “Pop! Goes the Weasel!” to accompany bath time or when walking around the neighborhood.

Play peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake

Peek-a-boo brings the element of surprise into your play. Try hiding behind tables or chairs or a brightly colored blanket to increase the fun. Pat-a-cake or even This Little Piggy inspires giggles and fun, too.

Play horsey or other physical games

In thinking about when do babies laugh, do you remember when you first did? Ask your mother or grandmother if they used to bounce you on her knee. Maybe you have it on a home video! It’s a tried and true way to get baby to laugh.

Physical games like pretending to steal their nose are always a hit, too. You can also nibble on fingers and toes and pretend to be ‘eating’ your baby.

Here’s more information on road trip games for babies and kids.

The Video Scientists Designed to Make Babies Laugh

Scientists have started trying to answer the question when do babies laugh? with more certainty. One researcher worked with a songwriter to develop the “Happy Song”—a song specifically crafted to make a baby laugh. When writing the song they used the following criteria: uptempo to mirror a baby’s heartbeat, written in the major key, repetitive but with a broad dynamic range to hold baby’s attention.

Check out the video below. Do you think it would make your baby laugh?

You can play the tune for baby to listen to and dance around. Don’t let baby watch the video though as screen time isn’t recommended till baby is around 2 years of age. (source)

Baby Laughing Video

Two of my most treasured videos are of my children Paloma and Griffin laughing. Here’s a clip of Griffin laughing hysterically:

What If Baby Isn’t Laughing?

Remember that babies all develop on different timelines—the question when do babies laugh is a hard one to answer, because it varies so much based on the child.

If your baby is hitting all other milestones (smiling, making eye contact), there’s probably nothing to worry about. If baby isn’t meeting other milestones either, talk to your pediatrician. He/she can monitor baby more closely. Always trust your gut—you know your child best.

How About You?

Do you remember when your baby first laughed? Did you ever get it on video?

The post When Do Babies Laugh? Plus, How to Make Baby Giggle appeared first on Mama Natural.

When Do Babies Eyes Change Color?

If your child is born with those baby blues, you’ll probably wonder when do babies eyes change color? Will they change color—or will they stay blue? 

It can take as long as 9 to 12 months for your baby’s permanent eye color to be determined and the change is so gradual, you might not even notice it happening. But by baby’s first birthday, you can be pretty sure whatever big eyes are staring down that smash cake are the ones they’ll have for life.

“Though some babies’ eye color changes rapidly with the onset of melanin, most infants undergo significant changes between six and nine months of age. This phenomenal occurrence happens once the iris has stored enough pigment to influence subtle changes like blue to grey, green to hazel, hazel to brown and so on.”(source)

Keep in mind that eye color generally gets darker, not lighter. Your brown-eyed girl isn’t likely to become blue-eyed later in life. But your blue-eyed boy may very well end up with green or even brown eyes.

Curious about baby’s eyesight? See our article on when babies can see.

Can You Tell if Baby’s Eyes Are Going to Change Color?

As noted above, if baby is born with brown eyes, he/she will almost certainly have those brown eyes for life. If baby has blue eyes, this simple (but not foolproof!) trick can help determine whether or not they’ll stay that way. (source)

1. Look at baby’s eye from the side to eliminate any light reflecting off the iris.
2. If there are flecks of gold in the blue of the eye, your baby’s eyes will likely change to either green or brown as they grow.
3. If there are minimal or no flecks of gold, it’s less likely your baby’s eye color will change much.

Another indicator? If baby’s eyes are clear, bright blue, they are most likely staying blue. If they are a darker, cloudier blue, they are most likely going to change to hazel, brown, or a darker color.

What Color Eyes Will My Baby Have?

There’s no way to know for sure what color eyes your little one will have.

Recent research suggests there’s a lot more than parents’ eye color that affects baby’s eye color, but you can generally expect:

• Two blue-eyed parents to have a blue-eyed child.
• Two brown-eyed parents to have a child with brown eyes.

Eye Color Chart

The post When Do Babies Eyes Change Color? Will They Stay Blue? appeared first on Mama Natural.

Here we’ll answer:

When Do Babies Crawl?

This milestone may come in fits and starts, and how a baby learns to crawl may vary wildly from child to child.

Baby crawling age: Most babies start crawling between 6 and 10 months.

Some babies may crawl as early as five or six months, some may not crawl until closer to 12 months, and some may skip crawling entirely.

An unexpected result of the 1994 “Back to Sleep” guidance to reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), is that babies are crawling later and a higher percentage of babies are skipping crawling entirely.

Experts say this is likely a result of less time spent on the tummy. (Note: This is NOT a reason to put your baby on his/her tummy to sleep. Since the recommendation for back sleeping was made, instances of SIDS has dropped by more than 50%! See below for more on the importance of tummy time and other ways to help encourage baby to crawl.)

Signs Baby Is Getting Ready to Crawl

Wondering when your baby will be on the move? Look for these signs that baby will likely crawl soon:

• Able to easily hold his head up when on his tummy
• Able to do a “plank,” supporting his/her weight with his/her arms
• Rolls over from front to back and back to front
• Sits up without support
• Balances on hands and knees, but does not move
• Rocks back and forth on hands and knees
• Lifts his/her knees off the floor and balances on arms and feet like the top of a push-up position
• Pushes up into a yoga-style downward dog position

Once you notice these signs of crawling, it’s a good idea to start baby proofing! 

When Do Babies Crawl: Videos of My Children Learning to Crawl

When do babies start crawling? Here’s my firstborn, Griffin, going through all the crawling milestones and stages, from 6.5 to 8.5 months:

And here’s my daughter Paloma going through different stages of crawling:

Types of Crawling

Everyone is familiar with the classic hands and knees, but there are other types of crawls as well.

1. Hands and knees or cross crawl

This is the most common. Baby will crawl with his/her weight on their hands and knees, moving the opposite arm and leg simultaneously in a forward direction.

2. Army crawl

Baby will crawl with his/her belly on the floor, pulling his/her weight with their arms.

3. Bear crawl

Baby will lift their knees off the ground and crawl on their hands and feet. Think of Mowgli’s crawl in Disney’s Jungle Book.

4. Crab crawl

Like a crab, baby will move sideways or backwards using their hands to propel movement.

5. Bottom scooter

Baby will sit on his/her bottom and use their arms to move forward.

6. Roller

Instead of crawling, baby will roll across a room to reach their destination.

Why Crawling is Beneficial

Crawling stimulates the brain

Crawling isn’t just a stepping stone to walking, crawling is an incredibly complex process that requires use of both the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

The type of motion crawling requires (simultaneous movement of both sides of the body) activates both sides of the brain at the same time—an important step in building cognitive processes like comprehension, concentration, and memory.

As a result, some research suggests that kids who crawl longer may even show higher academic performance later in life!

Crawling improves vision

Crawling also helps develop spatial reasoning and binocular vision, the ability to look both near and far at the same time. When baby crawls, he has to look down at his hands, while simultaneously looking at his destination in the distance. (source)

Crawling encourages problem-solving

As your child becomes more proficient at crawling, she also develops other important skills, such as problem solving (determining how to get from point A to point B), exploration, and self-sufficiency (crawling to grab a toy they want).

Crawling leads to walking

Crawling is also important for developing physical strength and balance in the core, arms, and legs that will be needed when they are ready to walk. (source) Though it may seem like that milestone is far in the future, baby will be standing, cruising, and even walking before you know it. Learn more about when babies start to walk.

How Can I Help My Baby Learn to Crawl?

Many parents want to know how to help a baby crawl, but crawling is a natural part of baby’s development, and she will crawl when she’s ready.

However, when do babies crawl is also dependent on the strength of their core, back, neck, and arms. Looking for something to help this process along? Enter tummy time. Tummy time is by far the most important and beneficial way to help babies prepare for crawling.

Babies are spending less time on their tummies, but it’s this very action that helps build the muscle strength necessary for crawling.

And if you need more convincing, according to microbiologist, Mary Ruebush, babies need to be exposed to the dirt and debris on the ground (yes!) as “this allows for ‘practice’ of immune responses, which will be necessary for protection, but it also plays a critical role in teaching the immature immune response what is best ignored.”

When (and how long) to do tummy time?

Tummy time can begin fairly soon after birth by laying belly-to-belly with baby while doing skin-to-skin contact. As baby gets older and stronger, slowly increase the length and frequency of tummy time.

Pediatricians recommend placing alert infants on their tummies 2-3 times a day, for 3-5 minutes each time. By 3-4 months, try for around 20 minutes of tummy time each day. If your baby is content and alert, allow them to stay on their tummy as long as they like, working up to 40-60 minutes each day.

Some babies will love tummy time while others will hate it. If your baby is unhappy during tummy time decrease the duration. If baby is fussy or crying during tummy time, you can also try getting down on the floor with baby and talking, singing, or providing toys.

Other Ways to Encourage Baby to Crawl

Avoid bouncers, seats, and walkers

Container Baby Syndrome is a real condition that affects babies who spend too much time in carseats, loungers, bouncers, and other “containers.” Because these seats allow for little to no movement, prolonged use can cause severe problems like flat head syndrome, decreased muscle strength, poor coordination, ADHD, obesity, and more. Experts say some containers, like Bumbo seats, can also cause incorrect postural alignment.

Place objects out of reach

Once baby is comfortable with longer stretches of tummy time, has good head and neck control, and can support their upper body weight on their arms, place a favorite toy just out of reach. Although it may be initially frustrating, having a desired object out of reach will encourage baby to get moving.

Get a tunnel or tent

Interesting toys and age-appropriate obstacles, like tunnels or crawl balls, can make crawling more exciting for baby.

Join in!

Get down on all fours with baby on the floor. Crawl around so your baby can see. You can even make a game out of it and pretend to be a dog or other favorite animal. Baby will understand by your actions what he needs to do. Bonus: Experts say imitation builds trust and is vital to the way babies learn.

A Note About Baby Proofing

When baby starts crawling or showing signs that crawling is imminent, it’s time to start thinking about baby proofing your home. While it is impossible to make your home completely risk free, the goal of baby proofing is to reduce the amount of trouble that your child can get into.

Three of the most prominent hazards are blind cords, open electrical outlets, and stairways. Other hazards to consider include tip-prone furniture, items on low shelves, open toilets, cabinets, drawers, sharp corners (like on coffee tables), pools, and fireplaces.

There are a plethora of available products to mitigate these safety issues, but your attention to your child is the best defense against harm’s way. The more present we are with our children, the safer our homes will be.

For a full guide to baby proofing check out my Common Sense Guide to Keeping Baby Safe.

When to Talk to Your Pediatrician

Remember: Each child will develop differently and some babies never crawl. As long as baby is progressing, there is nothing to worry about.

If baby is making age-appropriate progress in other developmental areas such as speaking, engaging with others, observing activity around them, and playing with toys, he/she is likely just going to be a late crawler or may even skip crawling entirely.

Watch baby to make sure his/her strength and coordination is improving, and talk to your doctor if anything seems amiss. If you notice your child is favoring one side over the other, it’s worth noting to your doctor—in rare cases this could be an early sign of cerebral palsy. If your child just turned one and still not crawling, it’s time to talk to your pediatrician.

How About You?

When did your baby crawl? Any tips for encouraging baby to crawl?

The post When Do Babies Crawl? The Stages of Crawling + VIDEO! appeared first on Mama Natural.

Read on to learn when do babies smile, plus:

• What’s the difference between a reflexive smile and a social smile?
• What different types of smiles do babies make?
• Why is smiling so important for baby’s development?
• What’s the best way to make baby smile?
• Why do babies smile in their sleep?
• What should you do if baby isn’t smiling after 2 months?

How Early Can Baby Smile?

So, when do babies smile? If you guessed in the womb, you’d be right! Some moms swear baby is flashing a smile in her ultrasound picture, and no, they’re not imagining it—experts say babies learn to smile while still in utero, at about 26 weeks.

“What’s behind the smile, of course, I can’t say, but the corners turn up and the cheeks bulge … I think it must be some indication of contentment in a stress-free environment.” — Stuart Campbell, an obstetrician in Scotland

When Do Babies Smile on Purpose?

So do babies smile right from birth? Sort of. There’s a difference between a reflexive smile (an unconscious upturn of the mouth) and a social smile (knowingly engaging with someone). 

Some newborns appear to smile, particularly in their sleep or after passing gas. These fleeting grins are most often a reflex that can be attributed to a physical reaction or some other internal signal. Babies don’t actually learn how to smile as an intended response until they are about 2-3 months old. (source)

Does Baby’s Smile Mean He/She Is Happy?

Once baby starts smiling intentionally, you might wonder if he/she is trying to tell you something with that toothless grin. Research suggests that a baby’s smile has more to do with developing communication skills and less about expressing an emotional state. What does that mean exactly? Baby’s first smile doesn’t necessarily mean he/she is happy in that moment. Instead, baby is learning about positive interactions. 

“I really think that babies are learning what joy is by sharing it with someone else.” — Daniel Messinger, a professor of psychology at the University of Miami

Another study supports that theory, showing that babies smile to make the person they interact with smile in return. In other words, baby is likely copying your facial expressions to get a reaction from you.

“Babies are very goal-oriented. By the time infants reach 4 months of age, both mothers and infants time their smiles in a purposeful, goal-oriented manner.” (source)

Researchers say these social smiles are important for long-term development because of a thing called mirror neurons, a type of brain cell that fires when two people perform the same action. During those first few months, an infant’s mirror neurons help them learn facial expressions; later they aid in language development and acquiring other social habits. (source)

What Does Baby’s Smile Mean?

Sometimes baby gives you a big wide smile, other times all you get is a little smirk. Researchers think there is a reason for the difference: Once baby is about 6 months old, he starts to learn the feelings associated with smiling and the intensity of his smile communicates different emotions. Here, the four types of smiles babies display:

• Simple: lip corner retraction only
• Duchenne: simple, plus cheek raising
• Play: simple, plus jaw drop
• Duplay: simple, plus cheek raise and jaw drop

Simple smiles are similar to a smirk—baby might seem hesitant to smile. Duchenne smiles happen most often when baby is focused on an action or a person (like mom tickling her), and play and duplay smiles reflect varying degrees of enjoyment and playfulness.

But Baby Still Has More to Learn…

Smiling seems like such a simple thing, but those heartwarming first smiles are just the beginning for baby. Around 8 months, babies develop a skill called anticipatory smiling—baby is learning to communicate a positive feeling about an object to another person. 

Whether used to indicate (“This toy is funny!”) or to confirm (“Isn’t this toy funny?”), anticipatory smiles suggest a new social awareness… Anticipatory smiling provides an interactive structure in which infants can learn that experiences can be shared with others. — source

Why It’s So Important to Smile at Baby

It sounds silly, right? Of course you’re smiling at your baby! Once your baby starts to smile, chances are you’re going to do your best to get her to do it over and over again—and that’s exactly what you should be doing.

When baby smiles, a parent’s positive reinforcement lets them know that her feelings are important and may ultimately influence self-esteem. Another study indicates smiling, along with eye contact, helps an infant develop empathy. It all makes sense, too. Young babies do not yet understand language, they rely solely on nonverbal cues to learn about the world around them.

How to Make Babies Smile

If you want to get baby to smile, try this first:

1. Make sure baby isn’t hungry or sleepy, as he will be in a better mood if he’s fed and rested.
2. Make sure you’re within 8 to 12 inches of their face. (During the first few months—baby’s eyesight is still rapidly developing. That can make it hard for baby to distinguish shapes and colors, including your face when it’s too far away.)

Once that criteria has been met, play games and make silly faces—you may need to experiment to see what your baby responds to. Here are some fun ways to play with a newborn and, hopefully, make baby smile:

• Sing songs to them, incorporating hand movements or silly noises, like the animal noises in “Old MacDonald”
• Play simple games like peek-a-boo or “This Little Piggie”
• Gently tickle baby or blow raspberries on his belly
• Clap baby’s hands together or wiggle her feet and legs around
• Make funny sounds by popping your lips or clicking your tongue
• Make silly faces, such as sticking out your tongue or wiggling your nose
• Boop baby’s nose with a soft toy or stuffed animal
• Dance to upbeat music
• Put on a sock puppet show, or even just use your hands and a silly voice

Don’t worry if baby isn’t smiling regularly or only smiles at mom or dad. It can take a while for baby to figure out how to respond to social cues or to warm up to others. Remember: Baby is still adjusting to this big, loud, and bright world.

Why Does My Baby Smile in His Sleep?

Sleep smiles are some of the most precious moments mom and dad can observe, but why is baby smiling while snoozing? Are they reacting to a good dream or thought?

While the exact reason baby smiles while he/she is asleep may remain unknown, we do know that these smiles—along with grunts, grimaces, eyelid fluttering, sucking or other twitches—are part of a light sleep called active sleep, or rapid-eye movement sleep (REM).

Both babies and adults experience REM and make noises and facial expressions during sleep, but babies’ sleep cycles are shorter than adults’ cycles, lasting about 45 to 60 minutes. So you are likely to see facial expressions, including baby smiles, when your baby is re-entering this light, active sleep. (Source)

When to Talk to Your Pediatrician

Is your baby elusive with his/her smiles? As parents we want to see those smiles all the time—they provide positive reinforcement that baby is happy and healthy.

If your baby is 2 months old and you’re still asking yourself when do babies smile, you shouldn’t worry too much. Like adults, babies vary from person to person. Some babies are naturally more inclined to smile, while others may be more serious.

Your pediatrician will ask you whether baby has started to smile socially at her 2 month well visit. But remember: Babies hit milestones at different times, and that’s okay. If baby hasn’t started to smile reactively by about 3 months, your pediatrician may need to rule out any underlying conditions like an eye problem. In rare cases, the lack of a social smile could be an early warning sign for a more serious condition like Autism.

You know your baby best. Listen to your gut, and talk to your doctor if baby isn’t displaying signs of social smiles yet or if you have any concerns.

How About You?

When do babies smile in your household, mama? Share with us in the comments below!

The post When Do Babies Smile? Learn the Ins and Outs of This Fun Milestone! appeared first on Mama Natural.

• “Why does my baby startle so easily?”
• Why do my baby’s toes flex when I touch his/her feet?
• What does it mean when my baby turns his head towards me?

The good news: In most cases, everything is totally normal—even those weird infant reflexes. In this post, we’ll help put your mind at ease by explaining all of the most common newborn reflexes and how long they last. 

What Are Infant Reflexes?

One of the more bizarre aspects of babies are all those infant reflexes. When your baby’s arm involuntarily stands up while he’s asleep, it’s enough to startle even the most stalwart mom. But rest assured, all those weird reflexes are a normal part of your baby’s developing nervous system and are there for very good reasons.

“Newborn reflexes are automatic responses to stimuli. The nature of a newborn reflex is that the baby doesn’t have to think about what to do, but rather does things instinctively.” — Edith J. Chernoff, MD, a pediatrician and an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Chicago.

We all have reflexes; or involuntary movements that are triggered by certain stimuli, but they can be quite pronounced in newborns and infants. All these jerks and kicks are vestiges of primitive survival instincts—the rooting and sucking reflexes, for instance, help baby learn to nurse successfully. Infant reflexes are necessary and important to proper nervous system development.

What Are Some Newborn Reflexes?

Rooting Reflex

What it is: The rooting reflex, a reflex that’s present at birth, is triggered when the baby’s cheek or the corner of his mouth is touched or tickled. Baby will instinctively turn his head toward the sensation, open his mouth, and turn to the side, searching for the breast or bottle.

Purpose: The rooting reflex is a primitive method of survival. It is necessary for baby to find a food source in those first few weeks of life. A newborn will turn its head toward audio, olfactory, and visual cues, as well as touch (generally stroking the infant’s cheek), moving its head until a food source is found. (source)

How long it lasts: Once baby has had repeated success locating the food source, he/she will stop searching (moving the head around) and simply turn his/her head to latch. In breastfed babies this happens around 3 weeks old. Infants will still display signs of the rooting reflex until about 4 months of age, when movements become more voluntary rather than instinctual.

Sucking Reflex

What it is: The reflex is triggered when the roof of the mouth is touched, usually by breast or bottle, but also by thumbs and fingers or a pacifier. But it’s not quite as simple as it sounds:

“Smooth functioning relies on adjusting the change in sucking pressure to the flow of milk … In other words, the newborn has to sense the coming flow of milk and adjust the sucking pressure of it ahead of time.” — Handbook of Developmental Psychology

Purpose: Another primitive survival reflex that does exactly what it sounds like it does—it helps baby learn to suck. This might be the most important reflex, since it helps baby suck and swallow milk, whether breast or bottle feeding. Interestingly, this reflex is one of the only behaviors that is more skilled in babies than it is in adults. (source)

How long it lasts: The suck reflex begins to emerge at around 32 weeks gestation and is fully developed around 36 weeks. (This is why some premature babies initially have a difficult time eating.) Baby will use the sucking reflex to eat until about 2-3 months of age, when she learn to perform the action of sucking on her own.

Moro Reflex/Startle Reflex

What it is: Though commonly known as the startle reflex, the moro reflex and the startle reflex actually have important distinctions. In both cases, baby startles as a result of external stimuli. The moro reflex occurs more slowly—baby will extend his/her arms or legs into the air, arch the back and the head, and curl his/her fingers, wrists, and elbows. The moro reflex is triggered when you go to lay baby down—it causes a sort of falling sensation. The startle reflex is similar, but occurs suddenly as a result of a loud noise or a sudden movement. When the startle reflex is triggered, baby generally doesn’t fully extend the way he/she does when the moro reflex is triggered.

Purpose: Both the moro and the startle reflexes are meant to protect baby from danger. Baby is learning to respond to something that seems dangerous and use his/her body to protect him/herself.

How long it lasts: Interestingly, the moro reflex will begin to fade between 3-6 months, but the startle reflex persists through adulthood. (source) The moro reflex is part of the reason some babies need to be swaddled—the sudden movement can wake them. You know the feeling: You’re sleeping and you dream you’re falling down the stairs. It’s scary and unpleasant to be startled awake like that, and that’s what baby’s feeling. According to studies, swaddling can “significantly inhibit spontaneous arousals” caused by the moro reflex.

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

What it is: Also called the fencing reflex, tonic neck occurs when a relaxed baby is moved to the side. Baby’s head will turn to one side or the other, the arm on the opposite side will bend up at the elbow, and the arm on the same side as baby’s head will stretch out.

Purpose: This reflex develops early in the womb—at approximately 18 weeks. Experts say it promotes muscle development in-utero and makes it easier for baby to pass through the birth canal. Once baby is born, the reflex is important for the continuation of muscle development and helps build hand-eye coordination.

How long it lasts: This reflex can last up to 7 months.

Palmar Grasp

What it is: The grasp reflex, or palmar grasp, is triggered when baby’s palm is stroked. When stimulated, baby’s fingers curl in toward the palm in a grasping motion.

Purpose: Experts say the purpose of the palmar grasp is probably to prepare baby’s muscles to voluntarily grasp objects, including food and toys, later.

How long it lasts: The grasp reflex lasts until baby is 9-12 months old, when baby begins to fine tune his/her motor skills. Fun fact: The palmar grasp may be able to help you predict whether baby will be right- or left-handed. One study suggests that the hand with the stronger grasp is likely the hand baby will show preference towards.

Babinski Reflex (Plantar Reflex)

What it is: The Babinski reflex, arguably the cutest of all newborn reflexes, is similar to the palmar grasp, but occurs in the foot. When the sole of baby’s foot is stroked, the toes flex up and out.

Purpose: This reflex is meant to protect the sole of the foot. When the toes flex up and out, it’s in an effort to distance skin from anything harmful that may be underfoot. Think about it like this: You’re walking barefoot and, at the last second you notice a piece of glass on the floor. You instantly and involuntarily lift your foot off the ground to avoid stepping on it. That’s exactly what the plantar reflex is for. (source)

How long it lasts: This reflex is present until about 2 years old, but may disappear as early as 12 months.

Step Reflex

What it is: When baby is held aloft, letting his or her feet touch a firm surface, the stepping reflex is triggered, causing baby’s feet to move in a walking or stepping motion. This happens despite the fact that baby can’t yet support his or her own weight.

Purpose: Experts say this reflex ensures the leg muscles develop properly, so baby can learn to walk.

How long it lasts: The step reflex usually disappears around 2 months of age.

Landau Reflex

What it is: Developing around 3 months of age, the landau reflex occurs when baby is held in a prone position (face down with his/her head to one side). Baby will raise their head and flex the back, also slightly flexing their legs.

Purpose: Experts say the landau reflex helps baby stand up straight and develop correct posture. This is likely because baby works the muscles in his/her neck, back, and core when the landau reflex is triggered. As baby gets stronger, you may notice him/her displaying a similar movement during tummy time.

How long it lasts: This reflex should start to disappear around one year of age.

Parachute Reflex

What it is: When an infant is held aloft, facing down, and lowered toward the floor, the parachute reflex is triggered and their arms and legs splay outward, as if to catch themselves. 

Purpose: This reflex is meant to protect babies (and adults) from injury if they fall. Think about it this way: You’re walking down the sidewalk and trip on a crack. Your first instinct is to throw your hands out to catch yourself. This is essentially what baby is doing when the parachute reflex is triggered.

How long it lasts: This primitive reflex is unique, because it develops later in infancy (usually around 9 months) and does not disappear—even full-grown adults have the parachute reflex!

How Long Do Infant Reflexes Last?

Almost all of these newborn reflexes won’t last forever. In fact, they fade pretty quickly, as baby learns to survive in the world on his/her own.

“Most newborn reflexes begin to fade by the second month, and most should be gone by around the fourth month” — Kenneth Wible, MD, medical director of the Pediatric Care Center at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, Mo.

A few reflexes, like the palmar grasp and the step reflex, linger until baby is closer to 2 years old. And some, like the startle and the parachute reflex, never disappear!

What If My Infant Doesn’t Have These Reflexes?

Generally infant reflexes are a sign of typical neurologic development and let us know that everything is working correctly. Your pediatrician will check on baby’s development, including whether he/she has the appropriate reflexes, at well visits. If you have any concerns about your newborn’s reflexes, talk to your doctor.

What If These Infant Reflexes Don’t Go Away?

All babies are unique and develop at different speeds. Because of this, infant reflexes can last a bit longer in some children. There are no hard-and-fast rules about when newborn reflexes disappear, and there here is usually no cause for concern. In rare cases, persistent infant reflexes can signal neurological disorders. You should talk to your pediatrician if you have any questions about your baby’s development.

How About You?

Did any of your baby’s reflexes frustrate, amuse, or startle you? I’d love to hear your stories!

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