Babies are full of surprises! From the moment they’re born, they start developing in incredible ways, and many of their traits might surprise you. Here are six amazing facts about babies that you might never have known.
- Babies Are Born With Accents
Did you know that babies can "speak" with an accent from the moment they are born? While in the womb, babies hear a lot of sounds, especially the sounds of their mother’s voice. This constant exposure to the mother's speech patterns influences the baby's own sounds.
In a fascinating study, researchers recorded the cries of 60 newborns—half from French-speaking families and half from German-speaking families. The results were clear: French babies tended to cry at a higher pitch, while German babies had lower-pitched cries. This pattern reflects the rhythm and tone of the languages their mothers speak. So, it turns out that the influence of language starts much earlier than we thought—even before birth!
- Babies Have a "Mushroom" Shape to Their Heads at Birth
Don’t be alarmed if your newborn’s head looks a little misshapen. It's actually very common! A baby’s skull is soft and flexible when they’re born, which allows the head to mold and fit through the birth canal. As a result, babies can sometimes have a conical or "mushroom" shaped head right after birth.
This is a natural process that helps with brain growth. Over time, as the bones in the skull fuse together, the head shape will gradually return to normal. So, don’t worry—this is just one of the amazing ways the body adapts to birth.
- Sometimes Infants Stop Breathing Temporarily
It can be a scary moment for any parent when a baby stops breathing, but in most cases, it’s completely harmless. Infants sometimes hold their breath when they’re startled, upset, or in pain. This condition is known as “breath-holding,” and while it might freak you out, it typically resolves itself in under a minute.
Here’s what you should do if your baby stops breathing:
- Stay calm: The episode usually lasts less than a minute.
- Place your baby on their side: Don’t pick them up.
-Stay with them: Make sure they’re safe and can’t hurt themselves by hitting anything.
-Don’t panic: After the episode, reassure your baby and give them plenty of rest.
Things not to do:
- Don’t shake your baby or splash water on them.
- Don’t put anything in their mouth, including your fingers.
- Don’t perform CPR unless instructed by a professional.
- Don’t scold them: They’re not doing this on purpose.
Most babies outgrow this condition by the time they reach 4-5 years old, so it’s just a phase in their development.
- Infants Have More Taste Buds Than Adults
Babies are born with about 30,000 taste buds—three times the number adults have! These taste buds aren’t just on the tongue; they also appear on the sides of the mouth, the roof of the mouth, and even in the back of the throat.
However, despite having more taste buds, babies can’t taste salt until they're about four months old. This is because their kidneys aren’t fully developed to process sodium until then. Interestingly, the development of taste buds begins in the last trimester of pregnancy. So, if a mother consumes a variety of foods while pregnant, her baby may already be exposed to different flavors in the womb. This can make the transition to solid foods easier, as babies may be less picky when they start eating solids.
- Newborns Don’t Cry Tears (At First)
While newborns can scream, they don’t actually shed tears right away. Their tear ducts are still developing in the first few weeks of life, so tears don’t appear until about three weeks old. Initially, the tear ducts only produce enough moisture to keep the eyes lubricated. As the baby’s tear glands mature, they will begin producing tears in response to emotional distress or discomfort.
So, while your baby may be crying, don’t expect those adorable little tears just yet!
- Babies Have More Bones Than Adults
At birth, a baby’s body contains about 270 bones—more than the 206 bones found in an adult skeleton. But don't worry, this isn’t a cause for concern! These bones gradually fuse together as the child grows. For example, the bones in the skull, which start as several separate pieces, eventually fuse into a single structure. By adulthood, the number of bones in the body decreases as some of the smaller bones merge into larger ones.
This process, known as ossification, allows the body to become stronger and more flexible over time, ensuring proper structural support as the child matures.
Babies are truly fascinating, and even though they start life in what seems like a fragile state, their bodies are already doing remarkable things. From developing accents in the womb to growing stronger bones, their early years are full of amazing changes that help them grow into the little humans they will become.
References:
Karen Hopkin, (November 6, 2009), Babies Already Have an Accent
https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/babies-already-have-an-accent-09-11-06/
Healthwise, (October 24, 2023), Learning About Head Shapes in Newborns
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=abn2644
NHS, (March 2, 2023), Breath-holding in babies and children
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breath-holding-in-babies-and-children/
Maier-Nöth, (April 6, 2023), The Development of Healthy Eating and Food Pleasure in Infancy
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37023737/
Sarah Bradley, (July 31, 2020), When Do Babies Start Crying Tears?
https://www.healthline.com/health/baby/when-do-babies-get-tears
James Roland, (June 26, 2019), How Many Bones Are Babies Born With and Why Do They Have More Than Adults?
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-many-bones-does-a-baby-have
