From reflexes to taste buds – here’s what makes your newborn amazing.
When it comes to baby development, your little one is a full-on wonder. They grow fast, sleep loads, and do things you’d never expect, like being born without kneecaps. Whether you’re a first-time parent or deep in the newborn bubble, here are 17 newborn facts to help you understand your baby better (and make you a pub quiz hero, too).
1. Newborns don’t have kneecaps
Babies are born without proper kneecaps—just soft cartilage. Their real kneecaps don’t fully form until around 6 months. It’s one of those weird-but-true baby development milestones.
2. May babies are the heaviest
Research shows babies born in May weigh more than those born in any other month—around 200g more. It’s one of many surprising newborn growth facts.
3. They cry without tears
Newborns may wail dramatically, but their tear ducts aren’t fully developed yet. So there are no real tears until around 3–4 weeks old.
4. 300 bones at birth
Babies are born with around 300 bones, compared to 206 in adults. As they grow, some bones fuse together—especially in the skull, where “soft spots” (fontanelles) allow for easier birth.
5. Most babies have a birthmark
Around 80% of newborns are born with some kind of birthmark, usually from tiny blood vessels under the skin. Most fade naturally over time.
6. Baby hair falls out
Your baby’s thick newborn hair might not stick around. It’s totally normal for it to fall out in the early weeks and grow back (sometimes looking totally different).
7. Newborn reflexes are next-level
From the moro reflex (startle response) to stepping motions, newborns are born with around 70 built-in reflexe - early signs of brain and muscle development.
8. Why babies sleep so much
Newborns are usually only alert for about 3 minutes per hour in the early days. Their brain uses so much glucose that constant sleep is crucial for growth.
9. The first real smile
Expect your baby’s first social smile between 6–8 weeks. Until then, they’re just flexing their face muscles (still cute though).
10. Your baby knows your music
From around 4 months into pregnancy, babies can hear and recognise music. That same playlist could soothe them after birth—it’s early sensory development at work.
11. Taste buds everywhere
Babies have three times as many taste buds as adults—around 10,000! Their sense of taste develops before birth and can be influenced by your diet during pregnancy.
12. Baby laughs = pure joy
Babies laugh around 300 times a day. Adults average just 60. Maybe we should all take notes.
13. Baby accents are real
Newborns pick up on mum’s voice and her accent, all while still in the womb. You might even hear it in their early cries. Wild, right?
14. Breathing and swallowing, simultaneously
Until about 7 months old, babies can breathe and swallow at the same time. When they’re congested, feeding becomes tricky, and frustrating for everyone.
15. Eye colour changes
While many babies are born with brown or blue eyes, their true eye colour may not appear until 6 months or later. Genetics decides the final shade.
16. Heads are huge
At birth, a baby’s head is a quarter of their total body length. Their brain alone makes up 10% of body weight. It's one of the reasons baby proportions seem so different.
17. Fastest growth spurt of their life
Your baby will double in weight by 6 months, and quadruple it by age two. After that, things slow down (thankfully).
Why baby development matters to us
At Bonya, we love a good fact—especially when it helps parents feel confident and informed. Because better baby formula isn’t just about what’s in the tin—it’s about understanding what’s happening at every stage of your baby’s journey.
