Read your baby's body language
Decipher your newborn's non-verbal cues and learn how to respond to each one of them with our quick guide.
Newborns communicate with grown-ups long before they can speak their first words.Babies are born with the ability to express several emotions, including distress and contentment. Reading their body language cues helps you respond quickly to their needs. Here are some general principles that apply to most babies.
STARING
Babies take time to grasp things since their brain is still developing. They may stare at walls or other objects that fascinate them just to get a feel of the surroundings.
WHAT TO DO: Let your baby stare at things to figure out colour, shapes and distance. Don't meddle in her personal stare time by coming in the way .
KICKING HIS LEGS
He could be kicking his legs due to gas, a soiled nappy or feeling cramped in the cradle. It could also mean that he's happy and wants to play .
WHAT TO DO: Read your baby's facial expressions to understand if he is in distress. If not, and he wants to play, then share in the fun. If one of your funny acts set him kicking, do it more often.
OUTSTRETCHED ARMS
A toddler with her arms outstretched and open fingers is relaxed and happy . Pay attention to her facial expressions for a clear indication of what your child is trying to tell you.
WHAT TO DO: This is your chance to take the baby window shopping or to visit your relatives in a stroller. Offer her a toy , if you aren't going to step out.
BANGING HIS HEAD
A baby who bangs his head against the cradle or the wall is naturally a cause of concern. However, a lot of toddlers do this seemingly without harming themselves or feeling pain, because they like the rhythm of going back and forth.
WHAT TO DO: If the head banging continues far too long, check with the doctor.
ARCHING HER BACK
Newborns arch their back in reaction to pain or heart burn. It could be a direct sign of an acid reflux -a condition in which the backward flow of acid from the stomach irritates the food pipe. Your baby will arch her back to try to relieve the discomfort.
WHAT TO DO: If your baby is sleeping well, there is no need to panic. However, if the case is severe and both of you are spending sleepless nights, then take her to a paediatrician who may be able to provide medication to reduce the acids caused in her stomach.
RUBBING EYES OR EARS
Toddlers rub their eyes and ears with their hands when they tire. Before they turn six months old, they rub their faces against something if they are tired. After that, they could discover the ear by accident and take comfort in rubbing it since ears are sensitive.
WHAT TO DO: Start your bedtime routine as soon as your baby begins rubbing his ears and eyes. If your baby is rubbing his ears and is also running a temperature of over 101 degrees, he may have an ear infection. Consult your paediatrician in such cases.
ROOTING
Does your baby automatically turn the face toward your finger and make sucking motions with the mouth when you touch his cheek or lip? This is called the rooting reflex and is a survival tactic to help the baby find food.The reflex disappears after the first few weeks.
WHAT TO DO: While your baby figures out feeding, a simple touch of the cheek will help him find the breast or bottle.
Babies start to match the pitch and variation of the parent's tone of voice when they are two-three months old. By four to six months, newborns experiment with their voices -they start babbling, putting consonant and vowel sounds together and cooing. The voice is a clear indicator of the emotion -happy , mad, irritated, protesting, eager or content.
WHAT TO DO: Talk to your baby as you go through the day , pausing to let her babble back at you.Encourage her to react by mimicking the sounds she makes. These are the first conversations you are having with your child.
Newborns communicate with grown-ups long before they can speak their first words.Babies are born with the ability to express several emotions, including distress and contentment. Reading their body language cues helps you respond quickly to their needs. Here are some general principles that apply to most babies.
STARING
Babies take time to grasp things since their brain is still developing. They may stare at walls or other objects that fascinate them just to get a feel of the surroundings.
WHAT TO DO: Let your baby stare at things to figure out colour, shapes and distance. Don't meddle in her personal stare time by coming in the way .
KICKING HIS LEGS
He could be kicking his legs due to gas, a soiled nappy or feeling cramped in the cradle. It could also mean that he's happy and wants to play .
WHAT TO DO: Read your baby's facial expressions to understand if he is in distress. If not, and he wants to play, then share in the fun. If one of your funny acts set him kicking, do it more often.
OUTSTRETCHED ARMS
A toddler with her arms outstretched and open fingers is relaxed and happy . Pay attention to her facial expressions for a clear indication of what your child is trying to tell you.
WHAT TO DO: This is your chance to take the baby window shopping or to visit your relatives in a stroller. Offer her a toy , if you aren't going to step out.
BANGING HIS HEAD
A baby who bangs his head against the cradle or the wall is naturally a cause of concern. However, a lot of toddlers do this seemingly without harming themselves or feeling pain, because they like the rhythm of going back and forth.
WHAT TO DO: If the head banging continues far too long, check with the doctor.
ARCHING HER BACK
Newborns arch their back in reaction to pain or heart burn. It could be a direct sign of an acid reflux -a condition in which the backward flow of acid from the stomach irritates the food pipe. Your baby will arch her back to try to relieve the discomfort.
WHAT TO DO: If your baby is sleeping well, there is no need to panic. However, if the case is severe and both of you are spending sleepless nights, then take her to a paediatrician who may be able to provide medication to reduce the acids caused in her stomach.
RUBBING EYES OR EARS
Toddlers rub their eyes and ears with their hands when they tire. Before they turn six months old, they rub their faces against something if they are tired. After that, they could discover the ear by accident and take comfort in rubbing it since ears are sensitive.
WHAT TO DO: Start your bedtime routine as soon as your baby begins rubbing his ears and eyes. If your baby is rubbing his ears and is also running a temperature of over 101 degrees, he may have an ear infection. Consult your paediatrician in such cases.
ROOTING
Does your baby automatically turn the face toward your finger and make sucking motions with the mouth when you touch his cheek or lip? This is called the rooting reflex and is a survival tactic to help the baby find food.The reflex disappears after the first few weeks.
WHAT TO DO: While your baby figures out feeding, a simple touch of the cheek will help him find the breast or bottle.
COOING, BABBLING AND LAUGHING
WHAT TO DO: Talk to your baby as you go through the day , pausing to let her babble back at you.Encourage her to react by mimicking the sounds she makes. These are the first conversations you are having with your child.
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