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← Back to all writingBefore Seven · Article 4 · 35-part series planned · The first year

Babies from birth to six months

16 min readLast updated September 2026Beginner levelOfficial-source checked

Understanding crying, feeding, early communication and when to ask for help.

A newborn in a nappy sleeps against an adult's bare chest, head turned to the side with the face clear, an adult hand resting on the baby's head.
Figure 1. A baby rests against an adult's bare chest. Skin-to-skin requires an awake, alert caregiver and a clear airway. This photograph is not a recommended arrangement for an adult and baby to sleep together.

Understanding crying, feeding, early communication and when to ask for help.

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