How well do you know your baby?

Moalie · Baby knowledge

How well do you know
your baby?

Ten questions about what really happens in that little body. For pregnant women, new parents, and anyone curious about the world of a baby.

Daniëlle Kempers · Neonatology nurse & baby coach

Question 1 of 10

Question 1 of 10Senses

From which week in pregnancy can a baby hear sounds from outside — like your voice?

Between weeks 16 and 18, a baby begins to hear sounds from inside the body — your heartbeat, breathing, digestion. Sounds from outside, like your voice, reach them well only from about week 23. So talking to your belly definitely makes sense — and your baby recognizes your voice immediately after birth.

Question 2 of 10Sleep

Why do babies often startle awake during their sleep?

The Moro reflex is a natural reaction where babies suddenly spread their arms in response to an unexpected movement or sound. It is an ancient survival instinct already present in the womb. This reflex is strongest in the first 6 weeks and gradually disappears between 3 and 6 months. Swaddling helps babies sleep more calmly because it dampens the reflex.

Question 3 of 10Temperature

Babies cannot regulate their body temperature well themselves. How do you best notice if your baby is warm or cold?

Baby hands and feet are almost always a bit cooler — that does not indicate whether they are cold. The neck or chest gives a reliable indication of core temperature. Does it feel warm and dry? Then all is well. Clammy or very warm? Then the baby is probably dressed too warmly. I often see this go wrong in practice.

Question 4 of 10Crying

How many hours a day does a baby cry on average in the first weeks?

On average, newborns cry 2 to 3 hours a day — and that is completely normal. The peak often occurs around 6 weeks. Crying is the only way a baby can communicate: hunger, tiredness, overstimulation, discomfort. It says nothing about how well you are doing as a parent.

Question 5 of 10Nutrition

How big is the stomach of a newborn baby on day 1?

On day 1, the stomach is barely the size of a grape — about 5 to 7 ml. That is why babies need to be fed so often and why small amounts of spitting up are normal. By day 3, the stomach has grown to about 22–27 ml, and after a week to 45–60 ml. The body adapts very quickly.

Question 6 of 10Development

When does a baby first start to smile socially — as a conscious response to you?

The first real social smile — as a conscious response to your face or voice — usually appears around 4 to 6 weeks. Smiles before that are reflexive, often during sleep or after a burp. That first real smile is a milestone: your baby recognizes you and communicates back consciously.

Question 7 of 10Hiccup

Scientists discovered that hiccups in newborns have a surprising function. What is it?

Researchers at University College London discovered that every hiccup causes a wave of brain activity. The nervous system learns to control the breathing muscles this way. The hiccup is not a malfunction — it is practice. Premature babies hiccup more because their nervous system needs that training more.

Question 8 of 10Skin contact

What does skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care) demonstrably do to the heart rate and breathing of a newborn baby?

Scientific research shows that skin-to-skin contact stabilizes the heart rate, breathing, and body temperature of a newborn baby. The nervous system calms, stress hormones decrease, and blood sugar levels improve. In neonatology, kangaroo care has been part of standard care for decades — including for fathers.

Question 9 of 10Materials

Why is merinowool so suitable for babies — even in summer?

Merinowool is thermoregulating: it keeps warm when it’s cold and cools down when it’s warm. The fibers absorb moisture without feeling wet. Babies cannot yet regulate their own temperature well — merinowool supports this from the outside. That is exactly why, after nearly 30 years in neonatology, I am so convinced of this material.

Question 10 of 10Regulation

A baby is crying and won’t calm down. Which approach helps most according to science?

Babies under 6 months are not yet neurologically able to calm themselves. They need an adult — this is called co-regulation. Picking them up, skin-to-skin contact, and gentle movement activate the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce the stress response. Responding quickly to crying makes babies calmer in the long run, not spoiled.

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Frequently asked questions about babies

From when can a baby hear sounds from outside?

Between weeks 16 and 18, a baby begins to hear internal sounds, like the mother’s heartbeat. Sounds from outside, such as voices, are only well perceived from about week 23 of pregnancy.

Why do babies startle awake during sleep?

The Moro reflex is an innate survival instinct present already in the womb. It is strongest in the first 6 weeks and gradually disappears between 3 and 6 months. Swaddling helps babies sleep more peacefully.

How can you tell if a baby is warm or cold?

Don’t feel the hands — they are always a bit cooler. The neck or chest gives a reliable indication of a baby’s core temperature.

When does a baby smile consciously for the first time?

The first real social smile — a conscious response to a face or voice — usually appears around 4 to 6 weeks. Smiles before that are reflexive.

Why is merinowool good for babies?

Merinowool is thermoregulating and helps babies keep their body temperature stable. Babies can’t do this themselves yet — merinowool supports this from the outside, in both summer and winter.

What helps when a baby won’t calm down?

Babies under 6 months cannot yet calm themselves neurologically. Picking them up, skin-to-skin contact, and gentle movement work best. This is called co-regulation.