Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 3: Problem 10

Describe the sensory capabilities of the newborn.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The sensory capabilities of a newborn are rapidly developing. They can see up to 8-12 inches away, with a preference for high contrast colors and patterns. Hearing is well developed and they can recognize their mother's voice. Their sense of smell and taste is strong, with preferences for the smell of breastmilk and sweet tastes. The sense of touch is acute, particularly around the mouth, palms, soles of their feet and abdomen.

Step by step solution

01

- Discuss Newborn's Vision

A newborn's vision is underdeveloped at birth, but improves rapidly. At first, they can only see clearly objects that are 8-12 inches away. This is approximately the distance between a nursing baby and his mother's face. They can also detect high contrast patterns and colors (preferably black, white and red).
02

- Discuss Newborn's Hearing

A newborn's hearing is well developed by birth, though it is not perfect. In fact, studies suggest that hearing is one of the earliest senses to develop in the womb. Newborns can recognize their mother's voice from birth, a sign that learning may begin in utero.
03

- Discuss Newborn's Sense of Smell and Taste

The sense of smell and taste is strong in a newborn. Babies can identify their mother solely by scent, and have a preference for the smell of breast milk. Similarly, newborns have a preference for sweet tastes from birth.
04

- Discuss Newborn's Sense of Touch

The sense of touch is acute in newborns. Physical contact is important to the infant's growth and development. They are particularly sensitive around the mouth, palms, soles of their feet and abdomen.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Describe the social competencies of newborns.

Describe the normal process of labor. The first stage of labor contractions occur about every 8 to 10 minutes, increasing in frequency, duration, and intensity until the mother's cervix expands. In the second stage of labor, which lasts about 90 minutes, the baby begins to move through the cervix and birth canal and ultimately leaves the mother's body. In the third stage of labor, which lasts only a few minutes, the umbilical cord and placenta are expelled from the mother.

Describe some of the causes of, effects of, and treatments for preterm births. Preterm, or premature, infants, born less than 38 weeks following conception, generally have low birthweight, which can cause chilling, vulnerability to infection, respiratory distress syndrome, and hypersensitivity to environmental stimuli. They may even show adverse effects later in life, including slowed development, learning disabilities, behavior disorders, below-average IQ scores, and problems with physical coordination. Very-low- birthweight infants are in special danger because of the immaturity of their organ systems. However, medical advances have pushed the age of viability of the infant back to about 24 weeks following conception.

Describe rates of infant mortality and what factors affect these statistics. The infant mortality rate in the United States is higher than the rate in many other countries, and higher for low-income families than higher-income families.

Identify the risks that postmature babies face. Postmature babies, who spend extra time in their mothers' wombs, are also at risk. However, physicians can artificially induce labor or perform a Cesarean delivery to address this situation.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Psychology Textbooks

Scientific Foundations of Psychology

Read Explanation

Social Context of Behaviour

Read Explanation

Cognitive Psychology

Read Explanation

Health Psychology

Read Explanation

Biological Bases of Behavior

Read Explanation

Social Psychology

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free