OOh no, Christmas is coming! Too much food and drink,  Jingle Bells,  presents under the tree.  And lots of unsettled, howling babies. Most babies loath Christmas. Too many turkeys (like old dear Uncle Tom), parties, noise and excitement with mother’s attention sadly diverted towards feeding everyone and what to buy Auntie Susan.

New babies have emerged from a calm, dark womb where on a particularly interesting day, they will see the umbilical cord floating past. To a foetus that’s a big day!

At birth they are suddenly ejected into a busy world of lights, faces, and strange objects; of sounds and noise; […]