In general, the baby's responses are less specific than they will be when his nervous system is more mature. He may have the same response, such as sucking, to very different things like a light, a doorbell, or a sudden draft. He may also react with his whole body when he feels sudden changes in temperature, pressure, light and sound.

Yet the newborn is quite capable, and it is a myth that the world of the newborn is a big blooming confusion, that his visual field is a formless blur, that his mind is a blank slate. The infant sees a patterned and organized world which he explores discriminatingly with the limited means at his command.

The neonate is more sensitive to and aware of the world, he is more responsive to it. Even his reflexes are far from the purposeless activities. The newborn can already protect himself. For several days after birth, his gag reflex helps him spit up the mucus from his mother's womb so that he can breathe. A strong blink reflex protects his eyes too much light. If one part of his body is exposed to a sharp temperature change, his whole body changes color and temperature, he pulls in his limbs to reduce the exposed body surface, and finally begins to cry and shiver to try to improve his body's circulation and to protest this unwelcome change. As soon as he is covered and warm, he will be quiet.

He can avoid smothering. If you place an object over his nose and mouth, he will mouth it vigorously and then twist his head violently from side to side. If these maneuvers fail to remove it, he will cross each arm over his face to try to knock the object off.

On his tummy, he will lift his head from the bed and turn it to one side. Place your hand against his foot and he will crawl forward, arch his body, and even raise himself on his arms. Sometimes newborns flip themselves completely over. At this stage they are unaware of propelling themselves across space, but around the seventh month they will know what they are doing.