The normal heart rate for a newborn is between 120 to 160 beats per minute, considerably faster than an adult’s. This rapid heart rate supports their equally fast metabolism, helping to fuel their growth and development.
Sleep with their eyes open
It’s common for newborns to sleep with their eyes partially or fully open due to nocturnal lagophthalmos. While it might appear eerie or concerning to parents, it generally doesn’t affect the baby’s sleep quality or health.
Born with more taste buds
With up to 10,000 taste buds, newborns can taste a wider array of flavors than adults. These extra taste buds, located not just on the tongue but also around the mouth, begin to disappear as the child ages, concentrating the sense of taste primarily on the tongue.
Natural swimming reflexes
In addition to holding their breath, newborns demonstrate reflexive swimming movements when placed in water. These automatic actions are part of an innate survival mechanism, though reliance on them in water is not advised.
Rapid growth rate
The first year of life sees a baby tripling their birth weight and growing about 10 inches in length. This rate of growth is unmatched at any other time in life, highlighting the importance of nutrition and health during this stage.
