6 Things You Had No Idea Babies Could Do
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Your precious newborn may seem like a little lamb and for the most part, they are. Babies are in constant need of attention but they also have some interesting and unexpected abilities. In fact, they are far more capable and strong than we would think. For example, did you know that some babies can sleep with open eyes and their eyes can change color? How cool is that! It turns out there are some awesome things babies can do that not a lot of people know about. So, here’s your chance to find out what they are. Read on to know them all!
1. A Baby Influences The Restoration Of The Mother’s Inner Organs
Babies are miracle workers. The mother’s cardiac activity can be improved by the stem cells found in the baby’s umbilical cord. Research has found that stem cells from the baby’s umbilical cord can potentially improve the mother’s heart functions (1). This goes for other organs as well. There have been several instances where embryonic cells were found in pregnant women’s brains, hearts, and lungs (2). It is as if the baby is trying to heal its carrier for survival.
2. Most Babies Experience Taste Better Than Adults
Your baby’s tongue, palate and mucous membranes have more taste buds than an adult (3). It is believed that these buds are used to explore the world around them. It is also possible that babies feel more than taste, while licking any object. Something similar to synesthesia occurs in newborn babies (4). This is when signals from one sensory system end up in another sensory system (5). For example, when people see a specific color they taste something specific. We’ve all seen babies put objects like toys into their mouths often. This is because they are able to garner more information about these objects by tasting them due to a big number of neurons and taste buds. As we grow up we prune any unnecessary neural connections and perceive the world around us in a normal way (6).
3. Newborn Babies Can Bawl Without Tears And Do Not Sweat
During the initial weeks, newborns are able to cry with no tears and barely sweat. This is largely due to their underdeveloped lacrimal duct and sweat glands (7). There are two types of sweat-secreting glands in our body. The apocrine glands are only activated upon reaching adolescence but the eccrine glands are activated within a few weeks after the birth of the baby (8). This is why it is important to ensure that your baby stays cool and is not exposed to excess warmth or heat when they are so little. It can be harmful to swaddle babies in multiple layers as they cannot cool themselves down.
4. Babies Don’t Shiver When They Are Cold
Newborns have a different way of accomplishing thermoregulation to keep themselves warm. 5% of your baby’s body has adipose tissue, which protects your baby from getting too cold (9). And this is the reason babies aren’t as sensitive to colder temperatures as adults! If your baby is shaking, it’s most likely due to hunger or neurological problems in some cases.
5. Babies Can Manipulate Their Mother’s Brain
Babies influence the brain functions of their mothers! Talk about Mother Nature taking cues. When mothers inhale the scents of their babies, it starts off a wondrous chemical reaction in their brains. Dopamine, which is the pleasure hormone, makes its way into their bloodstream (10). The reaction is similar to the feeling of contentment one gets after drinking water when thirsty or eating while hungry.
A baby can even manipulate a mom or caregiver who has never birthed a baby!
6. Your Baby Is Golden, Literally
As wild as it may seem, the human body contains gold in small traces. On an average, humans possess 0.2 grams of gold in their bodies. However, babies are truly all-gold. The amount of gold in their hair alone is twice more than that present in the earth’s upper layers (11). It is believed that the concentrated content of gold is all thanks to breastmilk. But after around 3 months the gold content reduces to normal. But until then, you have a golden baby on your hands!
Learning everything there is to know about babies is a never-ending task. They change drastically, and rapidly. Which little baby fact surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments section!
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