By Dr. Margherita Dal Piaz, Developmental Neuro-psychomotor Therapist at Aventino Medical Group, Rome
The first days and weeks after birth are a unique and intense time, when every parent tries to understand their baby: why they cry, what soothes them, what they like, and what bothers them.
During this new and delicate phase—where joy often alternates with fatigue and anxiety—many parents ask themselves: “Am I really understanding my baby? Am I responding correctly to their needs?”The NBO – Newborn Behavioral Observation System was created to support families in this sensitive period, helping them read their newborn’s signals and discover their abilities and ways of communicating from the very first days of life.
What is the NBO method?
The NBO is an observation-based approach developed by American pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton and his team at Harvard University.
It is a dedicated session involving parents, their newborn, and a trained professional. Together, they explore how the baby communicates and relates to the world.
During the observation, the professional guides parents in noticing how their baby responds to different stimuli—voice, light, touch—and how they express their needs through subtle body cues, gaze, and crying.
The NBO is not a test and not a clinical assessment. It is a moment of shared discovery, where parents can observe their baby and become aware of what their child is already able to do and how they signal their needs.
Learning to read the baby’s signals helps parents feel more confident and calm, and helps the newborn feel seen, welcomed, and understood. This process strengthens mutual trust and lays a solid foundation not only for the relationship, but also for neurodevelopment.
There is, in fact, strong evidence that a responsive, calm caregiving environment has a positive impact on a child’s growth and on the development of their ability to adapt, interact, and learn.
In short, the NBO can be seen as a communication bridge: it helps the newborn feel understood and helps parents discover that they already have the inner resources needed to support their child.
NBO at Aventino Medical Group: personalised sessions to understand your baby
At Aventino Medical Group, we consider the NBO method a practical tool to help parents decode their baby’s signals in everyday life.
Sessions are led by our developmental neuro-psychomotor therapist, specifically trained in NBO, and are tailored to each family: the baby’s rhythm, parents’ questions, and situations that may raise concerns (crying, sleep, feeding, awake moments, interaction with siblings, etc.).Each session lasts around 30–45 minutes and takes place in a calm environment that fully respects the newborn’s wake and rest times.
NBO is particularly recommended during the first three months of life, but it can be helpful at any moment when parents feel the need to better understand their baby. It is open to all families, with or without specific concerns: a dedicated space to observe your baby together, recognise their abilities, and lay the foundations for a secure bond.
Conclusion: giving parents a concrete tool to better read their newborn
The NBO method does not replace a standard medical consultation; it complements it by offering parents simple, reliable tools to understand their baby, feel more confident, and support their emotional and neurodevelopmental growth. By learning to recognise their newborn’s signals, parents can adjust their responses more effectively, and the baby feels more protected, understood, and soothed.
👉 If you are expecting a baby or have just welcomed one, you can book an NBO session with our developmental neuro-psychomotor therapist at Aventino Medical Group in Rome. Specialised support to turn early doubts into practical resources, strengthen the bond with your baby, and build a safe, nurturing environment from the very beginning.