Table 1.

Shows the nine stages

Stages	Behaviours
1. Birth cry	Intense cry just after birth, transition to breathing air.
2. Relaxation stage	Infant rests. No activity of mouth, head, arms, legs or body.
3. Awakening stage	Infant begins to show signs of activity. Small thrusts of head: up, down, from side‐to‐side. Small movements of limbs and shoulders.
4. Active stage	Infant moves limbs and head, more determined movements. Rooting activity, ‘pushing’ with limbs without shifting body.
5. Resting stage*	Infant rests, with some activity, such as mouth activity, sucks on hand.
7. Familiarization	Infant has reached areola/nipple with mouth positioned to brush and lick areola/nipple.
8. Suckling stage	Infant has taken nipple in mouth and commences suckling.
9. Sleeping stage	Infant closes eyes and falls asleep.

^*The Resting Stage could be interspersed with all the stages.