Is it normal for a newborn to be alert

Mother's heartbeat, the gurgles of her digestive system , and even the sounds of her voice and the voices of other family members are part of a baby's world before birth. Once your baby is born, the sounds of the outside world come in loud and clear.

Your baby may startle at the unexpected bark of a dog nearby or seem soothed by the gentle whirring of the clothes dryer or the hum of the vacuum cleaner.

Notice how your newborn responds to your voice. Human voices, especially mom's and dad's, are a baby's favorite "music. If your baby is crying in the bassinet, see how quickly your approaching voice quiets him or her down. See how closely your baby listens when you are talking or singing in loving tones. Most newborns have a hearing screening before being released from the hospital most states require this.

If your baby didn't have it, or was born at home or a birthing center, it's important to have a hearing screening within the first month of life. Most babies born with a hearing loss can be diagnosed through a hearing screening. Newborns can taste and smell and will favor sweet tastes over bitter ones.

For example, a newborn will choose to suck on a bottle of sweetened water, but will turn away or cry if given something bitter or sour to taste. Likewise, newborns will turn toward smells they favor and turn away from bad odors. Though sweetness is preferred, taste preferences will continue to develop during the first year of life. In fact, studies show that a mother's diet can affect the way her breast milk tastes.

These first flavors can help shape flavor preferences later on. For example, a mother who ate spicy foods while nursing is likely to have a child who grows up to favor spicy foods.

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Family Life. Health Issues. Tips and Tools. Our Mission. Find a Pediatrician. Text Size. The quiet alert state usually lasts about an hour or so after birth. If a newborn baby remains in close contact with their mother during their first hour of life, the quiet alert state will last longer. Your newborn baby will then enter the active alert state, where they will start to move frequently. Their eyes will start to look around, and they will make small sounds.

This state is sometimes a precursor to the newborn baby becoming fussy. While in the active alert state, your newborn baby will move their arms, legs, body, or face.

These movements are not continuous, but they occur in a rhythm, with the movements occurring about once per minute or so.

During this state, your baby will be less drawn to faces and more interested in objects; their natural curiosity may start to emerge. If your newborn baby is hungry, uncomfortable, or lonely, they may enter a crying state. Crying is the only way that newborn babies have to communicate their needs to others. While in a crying state, your baby may move their arms and legs vigorously, and their face may become red and contorted.

Despite what well-meaning friends and relatives may say, it is not possible to "spoil" your newborn baby by responding to their every cry.

On the contrary, soothing your baby when they cry makes them safe and secure, and teaches them that you are there to take care of them. Sooner or later, your newborn baby will enter a drowsy state. As its name implies, newborn babies usually enter this state before they fall asleep.