Have you ever waked up in the middle of the night because your baby’s is crying up a storm and you just don’t know why? Well trying to understand gestures and expressions might be the best way to go. Even when babies are first born, believe it or not they already know a few things about people, language, and their new world, according to Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkley, and author of The Philosophical Baby: What Children’s Minds Tell Us About Truth, Love, and the Meaning of Life. “At first glance, babies may not seem to do much, “she says, “They don’t talk, which is usually how we find out what someone thinks—but looking at what they do, where they look, what interests or bores them can tell you a lot.” That’s why some easily-mistaken expressions and gestures may not be hard to decode after all-as long as you are able to spot the signs.
Look: Scrunched-up face and grunting noises
Meaning: Probably means the feeling of being uncomfortable. Gas ? Poop face?
Look: An intense, investigative stare at an object or in one general direction.
What does that mean: Babies normally get fascinated easily and is particularly intrigued by things around them. “They track the way objects around them move and are especially interested in edges and contrasts,” explains Gopnik.
Just a little something that I wanted to throw out there.
Swiss developmental psychologist Jean Piaget notably claimed babies don’t understand that an object can still exist once it’s out of view, but recent studies have thrown this theory out of the window. That’s why baby will continue to stare after mom has walked out of the door: He’s looking for her to return.
Look: Furrowed brows and a pouty lip
Meaning: Overstimulated and on the brink of a meltdown. Place the baby in a swing for some rhythmic movement to calm him down and back away slowly. Babies need some alone time too.
Look: A series of unexplainable crying, yelling, or even object throwing
Meaning: If this behavior is accompanied by some ploys of your attention, then guest what? That means that the baby is probably bored. One-on-one might be needed at this point.
Different types of crying:
Cry: Rhythmic and repetitive
Meaning: Hungry, Sucking on their fingers might be another sign of hunger too
Cry: Slow build-up of crying over several minutes
Meaning: Nap time
Cry: Periodic soft whimpers
Meaning: Baby is not feeling well; it is time to think about seeing a doctor
Cry: Powerful screams
Meaning: If the baby is crying at the top of their lungs for a prolonged period, then it’s time to see a doctor. Maybe the baby developed something
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