Emergence of temperament in the neonate: Neonates who cry longer during their first bath still cry longer at their next bathings

We observed that neonates who cried during bathing on day 2 still cried on days 3 and 4. The correlation coefficient, for example, between day 2 and day 3 was r = 0.410, p < 0.001, n = 100. Neonates may already have a distinct temperament (withdrawal and adaptability) as early as day 2 after birth.

► Some neonates cry intensely during their first bath on day 2, while others do not. ► Crying reflects one of nine categories of temperament, “approach or withdrawal”. ► Temperament refers to an individual's innate emotional predisposition. ► Neonates who cry longer during the first bath still cry longer at the next bathings. ► The results suggest that neonatal temperament appears as early as day 2 after birth.