Newborn 101

Newborn & Infant Vision Development

Newborns don’t have clear vision from day one. Vision develops gradually over the first months of life, and what your baby sees early on is very different from adult vision.

Quick Table

Age	What Baby Can See	Focus Distance	Color Vision	Typical Behaviors
Birth – 2 weeks	Very blurry shapes, light vs dark	20–30 cm (8–12 in)	None (grayscale)	Briefly looks at faces, prefers high contrast
2–4 weeks	Slightly clearer outlines	20–30 cm	Black, white, beginning contrast	Starts tracking slow movement
1–2 months	Faces clearer, moving objects	30–45 cm	Begins seeing red	Social smiling, eye contact
2–3 months	Much sharper vision	Up to ~60 cm	Red, yellow, green	Smooth tracking, watches hands
3–4 months	Good clarity at near & mid-range	60–90 cm	Most colors	Better eye coordination
4–6 months	Near-adult sharpness (still improving)	Across room	Full color	Reaches accurately, recognizes faces
6–9 months	Depth perception develops	Near & far	Full color	Crawling, visually guided movement
9–12 months	Close to adult vision	All distances	Full color	Precise hand-eye coordination

Key Things to Remember

• Newborns see best at feeding distance (your face ❤️)
• Vision develops with the brain, not just the eyes
• High-contrast patterns (black/white/red) are most stimulating early
• Distance vision matures last

When to mention to a pediatrician

• No eye contact by ~8 weeks
• Poor tracking by ~3 months
• One eye consistently turning in/out

White noise

White noise is generally safe for babies and is commonly used to calm crankiness and help with sleep

✅ Why white noise helps

• Mimics womb sounds (whooshing, heartbeat-like noise)
• Masks sudden sounds that can startle babies
• Helps babies self-soothe when overtired or overstimulated
• Especially useful during the newborn / 4th-trimester phase

Many NICUs even use controlled white noise for premature babies.

⚠️ Safety rules you should follow (important)

🔊  Volume

• Keep it ≤ 50 dB (roughly the sound of a soft shower or quiet rain)
• If you have to raise your voice to talk over it → it’s too loud Tip: On phones/apps, use ~25–30% volume max.

📍 Distance

• Place the sound source at least 1–2 meters (3–6 ft) away
• Never inside the crib or right next to baby’s ears

⏱ Duration

• Safe to use during naps and nighttime sleep
• You don’t need it 24/7
• It’s okay if baby sometimes sleeps without it

🎵  Type of sound

Best:

• White noise
• Pink noise
• Rain, fan, womb sounds Avoid:
• Music with lyrics
• Sudden changes in volume
• High-pitched or sharp sounds

❌ Common myths (quick debunk)

• “It damages hearing” → only if too loud or too close
• “Baby will get addicted” → babies don’t form dependence the way adults do
• “Silence is better” → total silence actually makes babies more sensitive to noise

💤 When white noise is especially helpful

• Evening witching hours
• During overtired meltdowns
• Noisy environments (siblings, traffic, visitors)
• Helping baby transition between sleep cycles

👶 Signs you should adjust or stop

• Baby startles or cries more when it turns on
• Baby seems agitated instead of soothed
• You notice ear-covering or discomfort If that happens: lower volume or try a different sound.

Bottom line

✔ Safe ✔ Helpful ✔ Widely recommended ⚠️ As long as volume + distance are right

Colicky baby

A colicky baby is an otherwise healthy infant who has frequent, intense, and unexplained crying that seems impossible to soothe — even though they’re fed, clean, and comfortable.

It’s exhausting, confusing, and very common. And importantly: it’s not your fault ❤️

👶 What exactly is colic?

Doctors usually define colic using the “Rule of 3”:

Crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks in an otherwise healthy baby.

Colic typically:

• Starts around 2–3 weeks
• Peaks at 6–8 weeks
• Improves by 3–4 months
• Almost always resolves on its own

😣 What does colic crying look like?

Colic cries are different from normal crying:

• Very high-pitched, intense, painful-sounding
• Baby may:
  • Pull legs up
  • Clench fists
  • Arch their back
  • Turn red in the face
• Happens often in the evening / night
• Baby is hard or impossible to soothe

🧠 Why does colic happen? (Theories)

There’s no single proven cause, but likely contributors include:

• Immature digestive system
• Gas and gut sensitivity
• Developing nervous system (overstimulation)
• Difficulty self-soothing
• Gut microbiome changes

Importantly: 👉 Colic is not caused by bad parenting

🛠️ What actually helps (sometimes)

No one thing works for all babies, but these often help:

✔️ Soothing techniques

• White noise or shushing
• Swaddling
• Gentle rocking or babywearing
• Warm baths
• Pacifier (if baby accepts)

✔️ Feeding-related tips

• Burp frequently
• Upright feeding position
• Slower feeds
• If breastfeeding: sometimes trial removing dairy (only with doctor advice)
• If formula-fed: doctor may suggest hydrolyzed formula

✔️ Probiotics

Some evidence supports Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for breastfed babies (always check with your pediatrician first)

🚩 When it’s NOT colic (get checked)

Call a doctor urgently if crying is accompanied by:

• Fever
• Poor feeding
• Vomiting (especially green or bloody)
• Blood in stool
• Lethargy
• Failure to gain weight

💛 A word for parents (important)

Colic is one of the hardest phases of early parenthood.

• It does not predict temperament
• It does not harm your baby long-term
• It will end

If you ever feel overwhelmed: 👉 Put the baby down safely, step away, breathe, 👉 Ask for help — this is not meant to be done alone.

Newborn Skull Development

• A newborn’s skull is made of multiple bone plates with soft gaps called fontanelles (soft spots).
• This design allows:
  • Passage through the birth canal
  • Rapid brain growth in the first 2 years

Skull Strength & Closure Timeline

• Birth–2 months: Skull is soft but well protected
• 2–6 months: Bones begin thickening
• 6–12 months: Skull becomes noticeably stronger
• 12–18 months: Posterior fontanelle closes
• 18–24 months: Anterior fontanelle closes → skull mostly solid
• 2–5 years: Skull bones continue fusing
• ~6–7 years: Near adult-level skull strength

Key Takeaways

• Soft does not mean fragile — the brain is protected
• Normal handling, touching, bathing, and cuddling are safe
• By 18–24 months, the skull is largely closed and strong
• Full strength develops gradually over several years

When to Check with a Doctor

• Soft spot bulges when baby is calm
• Soft spot appears deeply sunken
• Fontanelle closes very early (<6 months) or very late (>3 years)
• Uneven or abnormal head shape changes

Newborn Bathing Time – Summary

• There is no medically required time of day to bathe a newborn.
• Babies can be bathed any time of day if they are warm, calm, and supervised.
• Daily bathing is not necessary; 2–3 times per week is sufficient in the newborn stage.

Singapore-Specific Considerations

• Warm, humid climate → time of day matters less.
• Indoor air-conditioning is the main factor to manage.
• Avoid direct cold air on baby before and after the bath.

Comparing Bath Times

• Morning bath
  • Baby more alert
  • Less overtired crying
  • Does not help with night sleep
• Late afternoon / early evening (4–6 pm)
  • Often easiest and calmest
  • Can fit into a gentle routine
• Evening bath (6–8 pm)
  • May help relaxation for some babies
  • May overstimulate colicky babies
• Late-night bath
  • Not recommended
  • Disrupts sleep, harder to keep baby warm

Practical Guidelines

• Choose a time when baby is fed (but not just fed) and calm.
• Keep room warm; avoid strong air-con.
• Water temperature ~ 37°C (body temperature).
• Bath duration: 5–10 minutes.
• Dry and dress baby immediately after.

Key Takeaways

• Consistency > clock time
• Pick a time you can repeat without stress
• Skip bath if baby is overtired or very cranky