PSYCHOLOGY OF NEW BORN

PSYCHOLOGY OF NEW BORN

Although we all started as newborns, the mind of a newborn is a mystery to most people. Their complete dependence on their caregivers can be exhausting to parents, but newborns also have a surprisingly complex psychology. In the "Child Psychology" textbook, child psychologist Robin Harwood notes that numerous studies into newborn behavior have given scientists insight into what's going on in the mind of a newborn.

Reflexes

Thousands of years of evolution have equipped newborns with certain reflexes that keep them safe and help to ensure proper parental care --- including sucking, rooting and grasping. These behaviors are performed without conscious thought, though they can seem quite complex. For example, newborns reflexively grip anything placed in the palm of their hands. This provides some protection against falling and encourages parents to provide proper care. Most of these reflexes are gone by the time the baby is 6 months old.

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Bonding

Newborns attach readily to their parents and other caregivers. They can recognize their parents' voices and smells within minutes after birth. By the time a baby is a few months old, she will resist being held by unfamiliar caregivers. Being separated from a parent or other loved one is extraordinarily stressful to babies. John Bowlby's pioneering research into attachment demonstrated that, if a child does not receive sensitive care as a baby, she may struggle to form healthy relationships for the rest of her life.

Crying

Many parents are troubled by the frequent crying of their newborn babies. Although constant crying may indicate pain or infection, a baby who never cries may be ill. Crying is a baby's way of expressing his needs; a baby who is incapable of expressing his needs may be developmentally delayed or sick.

Sleeping

During the first few weeks of life, newborns spend most of their time sleeping. By 6 months or so, most newborns will have established a set schedule, though few sleep through the night. Sleeping is an important part of a baby's psychological and physical development. Newborns spend more time in rapid eye movement sleep, which indicates that they dream. Dreaming helps to improve memory, increase learning capability and may help babies deal with the stresses of daily life.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety usually begins between 6 and 12 months of age. Prior to this period, babies resist changes in caregivers but quickly calm down if they receive attentive care. When separation anxiety begins, however, babies have developed strong enough relationships with caregivers that they would actually prefer poor care from a familiar caregiver than excellent care from an unfamiliar one.