If you’re like me you may feel your newborn is a bit “boring” the first few weeks. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my child from day 0. Thing is I guessed I expected my little boy to play catch or Xbox 360 with me right away. Well, what I got was a lot of sleeping, some crying, and poopy… yes, I said poopy.

So for parents out there that understand where I’m coming from, well, we may be wrong. Our babies are not as boring as we think. I stumbled upon some very interesting baby facts that make our little ones more interesting than we can ever be…

*And now, I present to you fun facts about babies:

• Babies are born with 300 bones, but by adult we have only 206 in our bodies. The reason? Some bones fuse together later.
• Children born in the month of May are on the average 200 grams heavier at birth than children born in any other month.
• A newborn baby’s head accounts for about one-quarter of it’s entire weight.
• According to researchers at the University of Texas, babies like pretty faces better than plain ones.
• A fetus in the womb can hear. Tests have shown that fetuses respond to various sounds just as vigorously as they respond to pressures and internal sensations.

This is just a sample of interesting and fun facts about newborns and babies. Read about more fun baby facts here

*list from http://www.baby-names-now.com | fun baby facts

It has been said that babies seem to have a great response to music and voices while still in the womb. It is a fact that hearing is one of the first senses used during fetal development. As the unborn child continues to grow in the womb, the response to music and voices grow as well.

“In fetal development the auditory system forms extremely early and the ear is actually the first sensory organ to develop brain connections. And from those first weeks in the womb an infant’s ability to process sound and music only grows stronger”, says Angela England from Infant Toddler Play.

So what are the benefits of music when it comes to your baby? Research done in this field has always shown a dramatic increase in health, especially with premature babies. According to studies done in Neonatal Intensive Care Units, soothing music can lower blood pressure and stress hormones in premature babies.

“Music is a logical intervention, because it is structured and sequential. If a steady, calming rhythm and melody are introduced into an environment, it supports and encourages those in that environment to become steady and calm”, says Jan Schreibman, a music therapist at Methodist Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, Ind.

The most important benefit, however, is the proven positive effects music can have on brain development. During the first 6 years is when the most crucial brain development takes place for your child. Music can play a big role in your child’s brain development during their younger years. The Mozart Effect is worth looking into as well, since it explains how listening to music can enhance the intellect.

**Here are a few specific pieces of music that infant’s enjoy:

• Vivaldi Flute Concerto – The Four Seasons
• Massenet - Meditation from Thais
• Bach - Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
• Beethoven – Piano Concerto 5 (The Emperor Concerto), 2nd Movement
• Brahms - Symphony No. 3, 2nd Movement
• Haydn – Cello Concerto, 2nd Movement
• Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 6, 2nd Movement

**List from Angela England from Infant Toddler Play

There are numerous resources out there for parents. Whether you are an expecting parent or enjoying the first several months of you child’s life, there is a large library out there for those parents looking for ways to make their baby feel as comfortable as possible and strengthen the bond between parent and child.

For those of you that do not have the time or patience to read books, you’re in luck. DVDs like Infant Massage: Power of Touch are easy to follow and offers step by step guidance on how to rid your child of discomforts through safe, gentle massaging. According to The Chicago Parents Newsmagazine, infant massaging is proven to ease digestive problems, colic, and many other annoyances that would cause your child discomfort. “Doctors worldwide have recognized the positive impact of massage on infants’ well-being”, says The Chicago Parents Newsmagazine.

Other DVDs on the subject are available and some even cover massaging for newborns, infants and toddlers. Baby Massage Therapy: Newborns, Infants, & Toddlers version2.0, is a great DVD for those parents that want to cover all three stages in the their child’s younger years. Still not convinced? Below are a few benefits that infant massaging offers:

• Improves circulation
• Enhances senses
• Fosters trust in parents
• Reduces stress

Visit this page for a full list of infant massage benefits