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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Newborns - how they hold themselves - help!

5 replies

lynniep · 12/03/2007 17:59

DH and I probably bit oversensitive as our DS just spent his first week in special care. Thank god he's home now, but we have to adjust to not having nurses on hand 24-7 to ask this stuff!

We are wondering what is 'normal' as regards head movement and legs.
DS has a favourite side for his head - he always has it lying to the left and even if we move it over he always tips it back to the left.

Also is it 'normal ' to bunch his legs up all the time in the foetal position. When he was in hospital he didnt do this, but since we got him home he never has his legs in the leg parts of his body suit! I think that in hospital, he was floppier because of the drugs in the system, and now they've worn off, but never having been near a newborn baby before I have no idea what they usually do.

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BigCookLittleCook · 12/03/2007 18:04

There will be a lot of people on here who know more than me who will offer you reassurance, but definitely most (maybe all?) newborns bunch their legs up and they gradually relax them as they get a bit older. THINK also that they often prefer to have head in one position or another, DS used to always look to his left in his cot (out into the room rather than facing wall).

Congrats on your new DS, treasure those first few weeks they are very special (as are all weeks really...)!!

JodieG1 · 12/03/2007 18:06

Yes it's normal, they start to unfold as the weeks go by My 3rd child is now 8 weeks old so have just seen the same thing happen.

SenoraPostrophe · 12/03/2007 18:06

yep, very normal. dd was bald on on side of her head but not the other at one point and all 3 would have been better off wearing bags than babygros. The legs get more froggy than fetal after a few weeks, but stay bendy for months.

congratulations!

lulumama · 12/03/2007 18:22

sounds perfectly normal !! my babies also had little bald spots where their hair rubbed off !!

babies take several weeks to adjust to being born, and realising their arms and legs belong to them..so they do tend to curl up ....!

am very glad your DS has come home from special care and that all is well for you all xx

Original poster

lynniep · 12/03/2007 19:39

thanks - we're reassured now!

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