Babies don't have the wiring to calm themselves down — their nervous system isn't finished yet.

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:00]Babies can't calm down alone.

[00:00:02]Newborns cannot self-regulate their cortisol, the stress hormone. Their nervous system is biologically incomplete at birth. When a caregiver picks up a crying baby, cortisol levels drop measurably within 2 minutes. The parent isn't just comforting, they're performing a biological function the baby's brain cannot do yet. This is called co-regulation. The caregiver is functioning as an external nervous system. This is why holding a distressed newborn isn't spoiling, it's neuroscience. Follow for more incredible baby facts.