Your baby has all the same senses you do. Even at birth, babies can see, hear, smell and touch.

Vision-Babies prefer to look at faces. For the first few weeks of life, they see best at a distance of 8 to 12 inches-about the distance between your face and theirs when you hold them close to feed or to talk to them.

Bright colors, high-contrast patterns and shiny things are more interesting to babies than pale colors. Babies may follow moving objects with their eyes for a few seconds. During the first weeks their heads turn to the side when they lie down, so hang mobiles from the side of the crib, not from the top.

Hearing-Infants may turn their heads toward the source of an interesting noise. They prefer high-pitched, gentle voices. By the time babies are three weeks old, they may recognize their mom's and dad's voices. When your baby is upset, soft music may help calm her.

Smell-Even young babies react to smells. Strong, harsh smells will make baby turn her head away and cry. By one week of age, babies know the smell of their own nursing mothers.

Touch-Touching is very important to babies. Being held close and cuddled helps babies know that their world is a friendly place. In fact, studies have shown that babies who are held for more hours each day cry much less than babies who aren't held as much. Hold your baby, or use a frontpack. Being in your arms and hearing your heart beat make baby feel safe.

Cuddle and hold your baby whenever you want to Don't worry about spoiling her. Babies are supposed to be babied! While you're at it, share a hug with the rest of your family. You'll all feel better for it.

Babies can also sense movement from very early on. Motion, like rocking and walking, helps calm a crying baby. Remember, she spent none months floating inside the uterus; she's used to rocking and moving around. Holding her upright also lets her look around, so she may cry less.

Authors: Dave Riley and Dorian Schatell at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin