Neonate is a word that comes from the same Nascent Latin root, 'nasc-, nat-', which means 'born'. Some words based on this root are: natal; related to birth. Prenatal: occurred or existing before birth. Nascent: birth or beginning.
Another word that we use incessantly and is second nature to us comes from this source. The word is nature itself. Nature is a derivative of the Latin word natura, which means "essential qualities or innate disposition." This word is also a derivative of our root under study 'nat-'. Originally, nature referred to the intrinsic characteristics of plants, animals, and other characteristics of the world. These were the characteristics with which one was born or existed right at the beginning. Therefore, the word nature comes with a reference to these qualities. In modern times, the word nature is a variety of ways. One of those uses refers to the natural characteristics of a person. The other refers to the characteristics of this world and the characteristics of this world minus human beings.
A neonate is, in colloquial use, a baby who is only hours, days, or up to a month old. In medical contexts, the newborn refers to a baby in the first 28 days after birth; The term applies to premature, term and postmature infants; Before birth, the term "fetus" is used. The term "infant" is typically applied to young children between one month and one year of age; However, definitions can vary and may include children up to two years of age. When a human child learns to walk, the term "toddler" may be used instead.
In British English, "infant" is a term that can be applied to children between four and seven years of age. As a legal term, "childhood" continues from birth to age 18.
In developed countries, the average birth weight of a full-term newborn is approximately 3.4 kg (7 1/2 pounds), and is typically in the range of 2.7-4.6 kg (6.0 -10.1 lb).
