New baby...are they scared?

Question

I just read another question and one of the answers was "they are held for 40 weeks so you are a comfort and secure", and that got me to thinking... Do you think that brand new little babies are absolutely terrified to enter the world? i would think that it must be terrifying for them to first of all be birthed (is that a word?) and second of all to be cooed at and held and passed from person to person at the beginning.

What do you think? Is it scary for them or do they not really get what's happening?

(ps. that answer that I semi quoted, please dont think I was bashing it, I agreed but it just got the old gears a-grindin' :-)

Answer 1

No they are not scared they have no concepts of fear. Neither do they have concepts of getting hurt that all come with age the hurt thing is taught to them  

Answer 2

I'm sure they get scared. It takes a little while for the fears to gear up, then settle back down. The more they become aware of, the more things there are to be scared of, then get used to. Adults don't like change, and we get scared over much less dramatic events than being born into a whole new, very large, cold, bright and loud world.

Answer 3

That was me that you quoted, and I didn't take offense- so no worries.

Yes, I do think the birth experience is scary for a baby.  They're all comfy and warm in a dark, liquidy womb.  Then they're squeezed through the birth canal into a bright, cold, dry world.

I think the cooing and holding is comforting, though.  They can't see any more than 12 inches in front of their face- so I don't think being passed from person to person is that bothersome.  As long as they're warm and cozy, they're OK.  But I'm sure they prefer mommy's smell and sound to anyone else!

Answer 4

I'm sure it's quite the shock to go from a cozy, secure warm place into wide open spaces. If they're lucky they have parents who don't worry about "spoiling" them and they spend a lot of time holding them, loving them and bonding with them. That makes for a happy, secure baby later on. I know this from my own experience. My daughter who is now 10 months old is happy to play by herself sometimes and is perfectly content if I leave the room for a moment. My friend, who was so worried about "spoiling" her baby and therefore didn't pick him up as much, has a baby who screams if she leaves the room for a second!! The baby has a lot of anxiety and is very insecure thanks to not being "spoiled".

Answer 5

I don't think babies are aware of their surroundings. As long as they are held and comforted and fed and changed, they are fine.