Baby Babble - What Does It Mean?
Whether your baby is pedaling joyfully with their hands and feet, beaming from ear to ear, or crying as hard as they can in bed, they are obviously trying to tell you something. But what?
Babies express themselves from birth: expressions, smiles, babbling, gesticulating all over the place. In just a few weeks your baby will refine their "language" to enable you to understand what they want and what they are feeling. Parents discover with surprise and happiness at what point their newborn baby is a fervent communicator. A short course in interpreting baby's vocabulary.
Smiles that mean so much…
When your baby smiles, it is not only to show you that they are happy but also to express a number of different emotions, always practical for communicating with you! There are different types of smiles:
- the "reflex smile" which is innate in newborn babies: it occurs when baby falls asleep after a nice bottle for instance... It is a reflex expressing physical well-being but it no doubt makes you melt!
- the smile and twinkling eyes indicating joy and appreciation. It's as if your baby was telling you "Thank you for looking after me, I love it!".
- the smile and clapping hands meaning "I know you and like being with you".
Why does my baby cry?
For babies, crying is a language in itself and you should let your baby express themselves as it is a way of communicating with you. Listen to your baby, they have lots of things to tell you…
- When your baby starts crying harder and their voice becomes more strident, then it means they are hungry!
- When your baby starts grunting, they no doubt want to go to sleep.
- If your baby starts crying suddenly and their voice is piercing and high-pitched, then your baby is more than likely in pain.
- When your baby cries hard and becomes red in the face, they are expressing their anger or frustration.
- If your baby cries continuously at the end of the day, then this is probably due to irritability after a long day. These episodes help your baby adjust to the sleep-waking cycle and to unload the emotions accumulated during the day.
Gestures full of meaning
As of 6 or 8 months, your baby will begin to use gestures to make themselves understood. They draw your attention to them by hiding their face behind their hands, rubbing their eyes to tell you they are tired, pointing with their finger to "ask for something" or reaching out their arms to be picked up. Their little gestures become increasingly frequent and complex, forming a unique language. A way of speaking even before having acquired verbal language.
This method of communication is used widely in English-speaking countries, notably in day-nurseries. It has even been baptized "baby sign language" and is based on the simple principle that each word is associated with a sign. To indicate "silence" the index finger is placed vertically on the lips; to say yummy, we rub the tummy etc. These are easy games that you can play with your baby. It will help them acquire verbal language in a fun way!
Related articles
Baby Allergies - 3 Facts Every Mum Should Know
Most allergies develop at infancy, particularly food allergy and atopic dermatitis (eczema).
2 mins to read
How much sleep does my baby need?
As a new parent, your baby’s sleeping habits are probably one of the first things you talk about with other new moms and dads. Here’s a rough guide of what to expect.
1 min to read
Exercise with toddlers: Clever mom hacks for hectic lives
Some days, the last thing you probably feel like doing is exercise—particularly if you’ve had a sleepless night. But keeping active can do wonders for your physical and mental health.
2 mins to read
Signs of A Weakened Immune System & How You Can Help Your Child
A strong immune system is the key for a healthy growing child. It gives them that extra protection to go on with their daily playtime.
4 mins to read
Signs your newborn’s hungry and signs he’s full
When it comes to feeding your baby, how will you know when to start and when to stop? Simple—he’ll tell you.
5 mins to read
First Words And Language Development
Hearing your little one say their first word makes you tingle with emotion and pride! How can you help baby through these amazing changes?
4 mins to read
Top 3 tummy troubles in babies
Because babies are born with immature digestive systems, they may experience episodes of colic, constipation, or spit-up during their first months.
3 mins to read
Working mom woes? Follow our tips for going back to work after a baby
If your family finances demand that you’re to become a working mom, you’re more than likely planning your return to work while navigating a rollercoaster of emotions—from feeling guilty and anxious
3 mins to read
Overfeeding newborn: look out for the signs
Did you know? Your baby was born with the natural ability to eat when he’s hungry and stop when he’s full.
2 mins to read
How Can I Make Sure My Baby Sleeps Well?
The question on every new mom's mind is "when will my baby sleep through the night?" There are some tips to help!
5 mins to read
Baby Cruising - Milestones
By now your little one is likely to have started to get the hang of crawling, and is probably well on her way to cruising.
2 mins to read
How to be a confident parent: start today with six easy steps
Becoming a new parent, and bringing your newborn home, is the most daunting experience to navigate.
4 mins to read
Best way to do tummy time for newborn
Tummy time can start soon after you bring your baby home from the hospital. Just don’t expect too much. At first your newborn will struggle to lift her head even a tiny bit while on her stomach.
3 mins to read
Discover Your Child’s Allergy Risk
What is an allergy?
3 mins to read
Finding a sleep schedule that works for you and your toddler
“How do I get my toddler to sleep?” is an age-old, universally asked question. Find out how other parents are doing it across the globe.
6 mins to read
Six easy ways to deal with judging parents
Feel like you’re the victim of mom shaming or mom judging? It’s tough being a new mom, let alone if you feel like you’re under attack from parental criticism.
3 mins to read
The importance of healthy sleep habits for your baby
Did you know? Getting your baby into good sleep habits now can affect her sleep as she grows up.
2 mins to read
Getting baby’s nursery ready
Preparing the baby’s nursery is a fun job to do before your bundle of joy arrives. Here’s a baby nursery list to help get them settled in at home.
2 mins to read
What is mastitis?
Mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the breast. It can happen when milk stays in your breast too long, or from infection in your breast.
3 mins to read
