Newborn Behavior During the First Week

Typical Behaviors

• The first week of life generally involves acclimation for a newborn, states the Raising Children Network. Because the baby has no prior knowledge about life, everything is new and unfamiliar. The newborn̵7;s sleeping and waking schedule revolves around hunger, and most babies need to eat every two to four hours, around the clock. A newborn̵7;s temperament will vary, just as everyone̵7;s does. Some babies may be quiet and peaceful and other babies may be more restless and fussy. It̵7;s common for newborns to sneeze and hiccup frequently without cause for alarm, states Trestlewood Pediatrics, a doctoring group based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Newborns also display irregular breathing patterns during the first weeks of life and they may shake or tremble, especially when crying, according to Children̵7;s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Sleep

• During the first week after birth, a newborn may sleep up to 20 hours out of a 24-hour period, but some babies do not sleep this much. When the baby is not sleeping, he is likely eating. Sometimes a newborn may be excessively sleepy, needing parents to wake him to eat. Consult your physician about the feeding frequency and request instructions about waking your baby if he does not wake on his own to eat.

Reflexes

• Newborns display many reflexes after birth that you will notice with observation. The enclosed environment of the womb forced the baby to adopt a tight fetal position. A newborn usually continues the fetal position initially after birth, drawing arms and legs tightly in and clenching fists, according to the Cleveland Clinic. You will probably see your baby ̶0;root̶1; ̵1; turn her head to look for a nipple if you touch her cheek. A newborn will also startle easily by throwing her arms and legs out if she perceives she might fall. Your baby should also grasp your finger tightly if you place it in her hand.

Nutrition

• A breastfed baby may need to eat up to 12 times in a 24-hour period, according to Sutter Health, a not-for-profit health system based in northern California. A formula-fed baby may eat between 2 and 4 ounces, seven to eight times in a 24-hour period. Feeding a baby on demand involves watching for hunger cues and feeding, regardless of the timing. Hunger cues include sucking on his fist, opening his mouth and rooting and fussing, according to the Woman, Infant & Children Nutrition Program. A newborn may also cluster-feed, which involves feeding more frequently for a period of time, at a point during the day or evening. Cluster feeding may occur before the baby sleeps for several hours.