Babies may not be able to speak, but they are born ready to communicate with you. In the beginning, their movements and cries may seem to occur with no particular pattern. In time, you will notice that these have a meaning and this is how they are trying to communicate with you.
It takes time to get to know your baby and their cues, and this is where baby massage can be of great help. It provides the opportunity to really focus on each another and allows you to become attuned to their cues. When you read their cues and are therefore able to respond quickly to their needs, babies feel more relaxed, secure and cared for. And asides from having a more content baby (and, therefore, more content parent) the parent-child bond is strengthened.
CRYING
This is your baby’s most effective way of communicating as it is sure to get your attention! If you listen carefully to their cries you will begin to notice subtle differences.
Remember to always go back to basics when deciphering cries. If your baby hasn’t fed for a while, they are likely to be hungry, if they have been awake for several hours, it is more than likely that it is a sleepy cry. Each of these are likely to elicit a cry.
Under the headings below are some of the things to look and listen out for in order to help you to decipher your baby’s cry.
Babies can often be hungry after waking up and can instantly start to cry for food. It's normally a short, low-pitched cry. But if you don't respond by feeding them quickly, the cry can become more loud and intense. You’ll soon learn to read their hungry cry!
You will also notice that your baby will start to ‘root’. The rooting reflex is essential for survival, as it helps baby to find food. When your baby is hungry your baby may turn their head strongly to one side while opening their mouth. They may also suck on their hands/fingers, or anything they can get hold of!