Oh, the joy of parenting! If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that babies are full of surprises—and they never stop keeping us on our toes. Here are some amazing facts about newborns that are sure to make you smile!
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They don’t have kneecaps.
Babies are born with cartilage where their kneecaps should be. The real kneecaps don’t fully develop until around six months of age. -
May babies are the heaviest.
Research shows that babies born in May weigh about 200g more than those born in any other month! -
Newborns don’t produce tears.
Even though they cry plenty, newborns can’t produce actual tears until their tear ducts develop—usually around 3–4 weeks old. -
They have 300 bones.
Babies are born with almost 50% more bones than adults! Over time, some of these bones fuse together, leaving adults with 206. -
Most babies have birthmarks.
Around 80% of babies are born with birthmarks, like ‘stork bites’ or ‘port wine stains.’ Most fade away after a few years. -
Their hair falls out.
Don’t get too attached to your baby’s newborn hair—it often falls out in the first few weeks. The hair that grows back might be completely different! -
Babies have lots of reflexes.
Newborns are born with about 70 reflexes. For example, their legs might “step” when you hold them upright, even though they’re nowhere near ready to walk! -
They’re super sleepy.
In their first few weeks, babies are only awake for about three minutes every hour during the day. All that growing and learning takes serious energy! -
They start smiling at 6–8 weeks.
Get ready to bring out your best funny faces—your baby’s first smile is just around the corner. -
They recognise your favorite music.
Babies can hear sounds and music from around four months into pregnancy, so the tunes you played on repeat might comfort them now. -
They have 10,000 taste buds!
Babies are born with about three times as many taste buds as adults. These develop all over their mouths during the last trimester of pregnancy. -
They laugh a lot.
Babies laugh about 300 times a day! Compare that to adults, who only laugh about 60 times, and it’s clear who’s having the most fun. -
They have accents.
Your baby’s cries can reflect your accent! Babies start picking this up during the third trimester of pregnancy. -
Baby girls can have mini periods.
Hormones from pregnancy can cause baby girls to shed their uterine lining after birth. Baby boys and girls can even lactate a little due to those lingering hormones. -
They can swallow and breathe at the same time.
Until about seven months of age, babies can do both at once. If they catch a cold, though, this ability disappears temporarily—one reason they get extra fussy. -
Their eye color changes.
Your baby’s eye color will settle by about six months old. Genetics play the biggest role here, so it’s always a bit of a guessing game! -
They’re out of proportion.
At birth, a baby’s head makes up about a quarter of their total length, and their brain accounts for 10% of their body weight. Don’t worry—the rest of their body will catch up quickly. -
They grow fast.
Babies double their weight in the first six months and quadruple it by the time they’re two. Thankfully, growth slows down after that—imagine if it didn’t!
Babies truly are little miracles, aren’t they? From their quirky reflexes to their astonishing growth, there’s so much to discover and appreciate in these early months. Parenting can be challenging, but it’s also filled with endless chances to connect with your little one and marvel at how quickly they grow and change. Treasure these moments—they might go by faster than you think, but the memories will last a lifetime!
Important Notice: Breastfeeding is best. Bonya Follow-on milk is only for babies over 6 months, and should be used as part of a mixed diet. Please talk to your Healthcare Professional.
