There are a number of alternative theories to essentialism. An anthropologist, for example, believes that human behavior is greatly affected by the culture and environment in which he is raised.
Touch. Touch is one of the best-developed senses at birth -- and it's absolutely crucial to bonding. Cuddling your baby will make him feel warm and secure, as will swaddling because it re-creates the confined feeling of the womb. And, yes, babies explore through touch, and their preferred tool is their mouth.
A: Vision is the last sense your baby develops, which helps explain why her eyesight is so fuzzy as a newborn (at birth, your baby can only see about 8 to 12 inches in front of her). Your unborn baby's eyelids remain closed until you're about 28 weeks pregnant, which allows the retinas to fully develop.