Understanding Your Baby's Signals

Babies have many ways of letting you know what they want or need.  Each baby has their own way of acting that is unlike anyone else.  You will find it helpful to understand and take care of your baby by looking at what they do (behavior), identifying cues, interacting during certain times (states), and helping them through their wake/sleep cycles.

It is not uncommon for parents/caregivers to become stressed or irritated by the sound of a crying baby.  If you feel that you will shake or strike the baby, place your baby carefully into the crib, try to relax, and call for help right away.  If you do not have friends or family who can assist,call the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (800-422-4453) for assistance.

Infant Cues

Cues are ways your baby is telling you what he or she wants.  Many of these cues are nonverbal but may lead to crying when not attended to.  When your baby wants to play or wants to be with you, these are called Approach Cues.  When your baby needs a break or rest, he displays Withdrawal Cues.

Positioning infants on their backs is important for sleeping infants.  A certain amount of “tummy time” while baby is awake and being tended to is beneficial for normal growth and development.  Time on their stomach will strengthen their neck muscles and encourage crawling activity.

How babies behave will affect how they are cared for by you and others.  When you learn your baby’s special language (behavior, cues, states), it can make what you do with your baby more fun.

Infant Behavior

Learning your baby’s behavior is one way to learn about your baby’s special language.  Your baby enjoys and has ability to:

• See:  Babies can best follow faces and objects with their eyes and head at a distance of eight-12 inches away.  They respond to contrasting colors and human faces.
• Hear: Babies listen to many sounds, but like the human voice best.  They will turn their heads towards a sound.
• Cuddle:  Most babies like to cuddle by molding or nestling into the curve of your arm or neck.
• Smile:  During the early weeks of life, your baby’s smile is a reflex.  By 3-4 weeks of life, your baby will smile back at you as a response to your attention including smiling and talking.
• Move:  Babies may move their arms and legs a lot or a little. These movements may be smooth or jerky.

Infant States

Your baby has different levels of sleeping and waking periods that are called “states”.  By learning to tell the state your baby is in, you get to know your baby better and know when it is the best time to play, feed, or let your baby sleep.  States include:

Quiet Sleep:

During this period, your baby lies still but may startle or twitch.  No face or eye movements are usually seen, although your baby may have sucking movements.  Baby will be very hard to wake up, so this is not a good time to feed or interact.

Active Sleep:

In this state, you may see body and face movements, sucking or smiling, or your baby’s eyelids may flutter.  Your baby tends to wake up more in this state.  Fussy or crying sounds do not always mean your baby is ready to eat.

Drowsy:

In this state, your baby has smooth body movements and mild startles.  The eyes may open and close and appear heavy lidded, dull, and glazed.  Before interacting, wait to see if your baby will stay asleep or wake up.  To wake up your baby in this drowsy period, give your baby something to see or hear.

Quiet Alert:

During this period, your baby may move a little or a lot.  The eyes are open and bright and the face has a bright and shiny look.  Your baby will focus on face, voice, or moving objects and is ready to be with you.  Try talking gently to your baby.  The key is to go slowly.

Active Alert:

In this state, your baby has a lot of body movement and may fuss.  He/she is more sensitive to noise, hunger, and may need a change of pace.  Try feeding if it is time for your baby to eat.  You may need to slow down or stop what you are doing with your baby if he remains fussy.

Crying:

During this period, your baby is crying, grimacing, and has a lot of body movement.  Crying tells you your baby has had enough.  You need to stop whatever you are doing and switch to something that may help soothe your baby.  Doing one soothing action at a time, like rocking, works best.

Approach Cues indicating your baby is ready to play may include:

• Stilling (stops moving)
• Looking at your face
• Smooth movements of arms and legs
• Reaching out to you
• Turning eyes or head towards you
• Smiling
• Feeding
• Cooing
• Babbling/Talking
• Eyes wide and bright
• Face bright
• Raising head

When your baby displays Approach Cues, this is a good time to talk, hold, feed, or play with your baby.

Cues that your baby is ready to sleep (Withdrawal) include:

• Turning head away
• Crying/Fussiness
• Back arching
• Falling asleep
• Squirming or kicking
• Pulling away
• Turning eyes away
• Yawning
• Wrinkled forehead
• Dull looking eyes
• Frowning
• Hiccoughs

When babies give Withdrawal Cues, they are telling you they need a break or a rest from what you are doing.  They may need to stop eating, playing, or being held.  They may “take a rest” themselves by falling asleep or they may need your help to take a break (as when crying).

Feeding Cues:  Your baby also gives you many cues as to when he or she wants to be fed.  Use these five behavioral cues to know when to awaken your baby more fully and begin to breastfeed or bottle feed:

• Rapid eye movements under the eyelids
• Sucking movements of the mouth and tongue
• Hand to mouth movements
• Body movements
• Small sounds

Following these feeding cues works better than waiting a set number of hours before attempting each feeding.  Also, trying to wake a baby from a deep sleep will prove frustrating for both of you.

Avoid covering the baby’s hands with his undershirt cuffs or wrapping him or her in such a way that the hands are unable to reach the mouth.  This prevents your baby from sucking on his or her fist which is comforting and also serves as a feeding cue.

Soothing your Baby

When your baby is fussy, you may help your baby by starting one soothing action at a time.  If what you try doesn’t work, try another soothing action.  These actions may include:

• Showing your baby your face
• Gently holding both of your baby’s arms close to his or her body
• Rocking, walking, or taking your baby for a stroller or car ride
• Feeding your baby
• Talking to your baby in a steady, soft voice
• Picking up and holding your baby close
• Singing, humming, or cooing to your baby
• Wrapping your baby snugly (not tightly) in a blanket
• Stroking one area of your baby’s body such as the head, foot, or back
• Letting your baby suck on a pacifier

Sometimes your baby will calm down best without any help.  Ways that your baby uses to calm down are:

• Sucking on his or her fingers, fist, or tongue
• Bringing hands to his or her mouth
• Changing how he or she is laying
• Looking and listening to faces and voices

Peer Review Status: Internally
Peer Review Date: 2004