A baby’s body language can tell us how they’re feeling or what do they need. It gives you important cues or signs about whether they are tired, hungry, ready to play, and needs a break. And it is important to respond to their cues. You build a strong relationship with your baby when you notice your baby’s body language and you respond to it immediately. Your baby will feel secure and safe as a result. And this strong relationship that you build with your baby is important to your baby’s development.
All babies give cues or signs of how they are feeling and what they need from you. But each baby develops their own mix of signs and body language to tell you what they want. You'll eventually learn each of your baby's unique cues. Your baby will eventually teach you their individual cues. As you and your baby get to know one another, you'll discover the best way to respond to each of their individual cues. Tired cues in babies include:
- Sucking fingers or fist
- jerky movements
- yawning
- dull looking
- sucking fingers
- losing interest in people or toys.
When your baby is hungry, they might:
- make sucking noises
- turn toward the breast
When you notice and recognize hunger signs in your baby, it is important to offer a feed. Looking for your baby’s hunger signs is a good way to work out when to feed them than waiting for a set number of hours in feeding.
“I’m full” cues in babies include:
- Closes his mouth
- Stops sucking
- Pushes away the feeding bottle
- Turns head away
“Ready to play” cues in babes include:
- eyes wide and bright
- eye contact with you
- smiles
- smooth movements
- hands reaching out to you
When you notice and recognize “ready to play” signs in your baby, it is the best time to smile and talk to your baby and make interactions with your baby.
Babies who are 4 months and older may not always be ready for a nap after playtime. Sometimes they just want a change of activity. Indicators that someone needs a break include moving their head away from you and wriggling or kicking. So, when you recognize these signs, it’s a good idea to give your baby some quiet time or a different playing activity.
Just because babies can't talk doesn't mean they don’t have important things to tell you. Being able to read and respond to your baby will make them happier, as well as help you learn a lot about their personality and temperament.
PDO I Kimberly M. Tanador, RND
References:
Baby Feeding Cues
https://www.breastfeedinginsheffield.co.uk/mum-and-baby/baby-feeding-cues/
Understanding Baby’s cue
https://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/child/30119.pdf
Baby’s Hunger Cues
https://wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov/babys-hunger-cues
Learning your Baby’s cues
https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/learning-your-baby-s-cues.aspx#:~:text=Cues%20are%20signals%20from%20your,and%20what's%20happening%20around%20him.
