Supporting a baby’s emotional development is just as important as looking after their physical needs. From the moment they are born your baby can communicate with you through his or her behaviour – this might be an obvious thing like a cry, or a subtle expression like moving an eyebrow.
Your baby will be communicating with you and you can support this by listening, watching and turn taking with them.
You could try:
- repeating the noises they make
- cuddling and making eye contact
- copying the faces they make
- sticking your tongue out and see if your baby copies
- try the 'Five to Thrive' approach: talk, play, relax, cuddle and respond
All your baby’s movements, expressions and responses are the unspoken words of their first language. Babies can’t think like older children but they do experience strong feelings and bodily sensations. They can be very sensitive to their environment, the people around them, the sounds, smells and emotions in the room.
The key to understanding your baby’s language is taking the time to watch. As you watch, observe and learn to interpret the meaning of your baby’s cues and behaviours you will soon get to know them, what they are saying and how they would like you to respond.