Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS)

The Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) comprehensively examines newborn behavior. It was developed by Thomas Berry Brazelton, an American pediatrician and author, and his colleagues. Specifically, the NBAS measures the development of babies who are zero to two months old by evaluating their consciousness (sleeping and waking), social interaction (gazing, body language, crying, etc.), autonomic system control (breathing, temperature regulation, etc.), and motor system control (reflexes, movement, etc.). The results present which key development tasks need more support and which areas exhibit strengths.