Why Do Newborns Make Strange Faces?

When you bring your newborn home, you're likely to notice him making some strange faces. Sometimes a baby's response to various stimuli can be confusing and stressful for Mom and Dad. There are many reasons why your baby may look happy one minute and upset the next. Your newborn is just trying to use all of his senses to help guide him through his new world.

  1. Noisy Baby

    • Your baby may seem very noisy in the beginning. Aside from the expected crying when something is wrong, you'll come to learn his various cues. He may grunt when having a bowel movement, squeak during sleep, sigh if he's tired or after a feeding, sneeze and even hiccup. These sounds are either reactions to stimulus around him or just his body adjusting to whatever physical act is happening. Loud noises or strong smells may also startle your baby or make him cry.

    Hearing and Smell

    • If baby is very noisy, this is a good sign and means his senses are functioning well from birth. He quickly comes to learn the sound of his mother's voice and smell, along with the sound of his father's voice. He also begins listening to music, which may calm him down, especially during a crying spell. Using his senses of smell and taste, he's able to determine the difference between breast milk and any other liquid. Babies prefer sweet tastes, so he may make a face when experiencing a sour taste or a bitter scent.

    Vision

    • When you hold your baby 8 to 12 inches away from your face, he's able to see you perfectly as you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding him. If you hold your newborn further away, he cannot focus as easily and you may notice his eyes start to cross a bit. During the first couple of months, this is a normal development and nothing to worry about.

    Sense of Touch

    • A newborn's most important sense is touch. Once out of the security of the warm fluid of the womb, he yearns to feel close body contact with you and be comforted. He may cringe when he is cold and appear happy and calm when covered by a soft blanket or enveloped in your arms. This tells him he is loved. Many babies smile as they are falling asleep, as they urinate or when their cheeks are stroked. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, this close, emotional bonding promotes healthy growth and development. Babies do not start to smile socially until they are about 5 weeks old, according to "What to Expect the First Year" by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, et. al.

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