A new baby can already do a lot. Let's look at some of it.

A new baby's palm is stroked. The fingers close tight. It is a grip.

A cheek is touched. The baby turns toward the touch. Its mouth opens. This is rooting. It helps the baby find food.

A loud sound can make a baby stretch. Its arms and legs go out. A sudden move can too. Then they pull back in.

Babies can hear loud sounds from the start. They may turn toward a voice they know.

New babies like to look at faces. They like black-and-white patterns too.

A new baby sees best about 8 to 12 inches away. That is about as far as a parent's face.

Babies cry to tell us what they need. It may be food or a hug. It may be sleep. A gentle voice can calm a crying baby.

Most new babies are asleep more than awake. As of November 2026, a usual guide is 14 to 17 hours a day. About 8 to 18 hours can be normal.

New babies wake up often to eat. Their tummies are tiny. They cannot hold much milk at once. So they do not sleep all night.

In the first months, babies coo. They make soft sounds like oooo. Later they babble. They make strings of sounds like tata.

Babies also learn to smile. They smile back at people who smile and talk. This starts in the first few months.

Words to know

• coo: soft sound
• babble: string of sounds
• rooting: finding food
• palm: inside of hand
• grip: hold tight