babies

Babies are fascinating creatures, full of wonder and surprises. From their unique physical characteristics to their remarkable abilities, there's a lot to learn about these tiny humans. Here are some fun facts about babies that will leave you in awe:

Physical Features and Development

- No kneecaps at birth: Babies are born without kneecaps, which are actually made of cartilage at this stage. It takes about six months for the kneecaps to fully develop. [1]
- More bones than adults: Babies are born with around 300 bones, but as they grow, some fuse together. By adulthood, we typically have 206 bones. [2]
- Tiny tummies: A newborn's stomach is about the size of a marble, capable of holding only a teaspoon or 5 to 7 ml of milk. Their stomach capacity gradually increases over time. [1]
- Fluctuating weight: It's normal for newborns to lose 5 to 10 percent of their body weight after birth. They are born with some extra fluid which is lost within the first few days. Healthy babies should be back to their birth weight within two weeks. [5]
- Big heads: A baby's head grows super fast! An average adult has a head circumference of 22 inches. Babies are born with an average head circumference of 12 inches and by one-year-old babies will have a head circumference of 18 inches. That means over half of their total head growth happens within one year! [5]

Sensory Abilities and Development

- Hearing: Babies can hear as well as adults. They startle at just about anything, not because it's softer or louder, but because it's new. They can recognize their mother's voice from just one syllable. [1]
- Smell: A baby's sense of smell is much more advanced than an adult's. They use this acute sense of smell to get to know their parents. [5]
- Taste: Babies can't taste salt until about 4 months old, but they have a keen sense of sweet, bitter, and sour flavors. Breast milk is very sweet, which is why babies love it. [5]
- Vision: For the first 3 months of life, babies can only see in black and white. They can only see things approximately 8-12 inches away from their faces. [5]
- Touch: Babies are born with a strong sense of touch, which is why skin-to-skin contact is so important for bonding. [2]

Unique Abilities and Behaviors

- Natural swimmers: Babies are born with a natural ability to swim and hold their breath. This reflex usually disappears after about six months. [2]
- Crying with an accent: Babies cry with the same cadence and melody as their native language. [5]
- Emotional perceptiveness: Even inside the womb, babies respond to their mother's emotions and feelings. During a study, researchers found when mothers listened to music they enjoyed through headphones the babies were more active. This means they were responding to how the mother was feeling about the music and not the music itself. [5]
- Smiling: A baby's smile is instinctive and not from watching and learning as originally believed. We know this because even blind babies know how to smile. [5]
- Multitaskers: Babies can breathe and swallow at the same time until 7 months of age. [5]

Other Interesting Facts

- Babies are born with red swollen labia or big-ballooned testicles. Don't worry, this is completely normal! [3]
- Babies often look like little monkeys with furry hair on their ears, shoulders, and foreheads. [3]
- The umbilical cord doesn't fall off; it rots off! [3]
- Babies have black tar-like poop. You can learn more about 'normal' baby poop here! [3]
- Babies can recognize their mother's voice at birth and may turn their heads or calm down when they hear it. [2]
- Babies have a strong grip reflex that allows them to hold onto objects or fingers placed in their palms. [2]
- The average baby will go through about 2,700 diapers in their first year of life. [1]
- Babies prefer a female voice over a male voice, which may explain why people raise their pitch when talking to babies. [1]

These are just a few of the many fascinating facts about babies. They are truly amazing creatures, full of potential and wonder.