Understanding Your Baby's Behavior
Babies and toddlers might not be able to talk yet, but they have many other ways to tell you how they are feeling! Children can experience the same emotions as adults but express them differently. It is important to understand your baby's behavior to keep them safe and make them more comfortable.
Infant Cues
Babies use certain cues or behaviors to tell us what they need. Learning to understand what your baby is telling you makes everything easier!
Engagement Cues
- Smiles
- Eyes open
- Relaxes face
- Rooting (hunger cue)
- Smooth body movements
- Looks intently at your face
- Follows your voice and face
- Feeding sounds (hunger cue)
What to do? When your baby is engaged, it's time to play or feed if your baby is showing hunger cues. Remember, playing is hard work for your baby, and they tire out easily.
Disengagement Cues
- Cries
- Coughs
- Grimaces
- Has a glazed look
- Turns or looks away
- Yawns or falls asleep
- Pushes away or arches back
- Extends fingers with a stiff hand
What to do? Follow your baby’s cues to figure out what needs to be different.
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Babies Cry
What to know about crying
Babies cry to communicate that they need help. Some important things to keep in mind about babies crying include:
- All babies cry.
- Babies cry less as they get older.
- Crying happens for a reason. It's a signal that the baby needs help.
- Watching and responding to early cues can help prevent some crying.
- It is common for a six-week-old baby to cry on and off for up to two hours per day.
- Newborns must be fed more often and are more likely than older babies to be hungry when they cry.
Steps to calm a crying baby
When your baby is crying:
- Try to figure out the reason for crying. Are they:
- Tired
- Hungry
- Uncomfortable
- Overstimulated
- Too hot or too cold
- In need of a diaper change
- Hold your baby close to you.
- Repeat the same action repeatedly. You can also try one of the following:
- Speaking or singing softly
- Gently massaging their back, arms and legs
- Gently rocking, swaying or bouncing your baby
- Be patient. Calming your baby takes time. Sticking with the same action for several minutes before trying something different can be the secret to success.
- Take a break. If you start to feel angry or overwhelmed, put the baby down in a safe place and take a break. Ask a friend or family member for help. You can also contact your doctor if you think their baby is crying too much.
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Healthy Sleep
There are 2 types of infant sleep: "active sleep" and "quiet sleep." Active sleep causes blood and nutrients to go to your baby's brain. Babies' brains need active sleep to grow and develop. Quiet sleep is a deep sleep that lets the brain rest. Did you know babies dream? It is actually healthy for them since it helps their brains develop. When babies are dreaming, they are easier to wake up.
When babies are young, waking to be fed or changed keeps them safe and healthy. Waking up so often can be hard for new parents, but it is important to check on your baby. Take a moment to watch this video and learn more about the sleep patterns of your baby. When you know what to expect with your baby's sleep, you will feel more relaxed and confident.