Your Baby’s Relationships, Senses & Signals

The first few months of every baby’s life are not very eventful. Their brains are developing, and they don’t know much about what is around them. As their brain cells grow, however, they start taking in what is around them and garnering enough to feel safe or unsafe, loved or neglected and even wanted. They learn from the way those around them interact with them; if you talk to them softly, look into their eyes and smile, they start learning to smile too, laugh and be happy. Various aspects of their growth are strengthened every moment so that if they feel neglected their sense of stress is strengthened.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BABY

1. Nothing delights your little bundle of joy than getting their mom’s attention. You will always hear the bursts of giggles and the widening bright eyes whenever you talk to them, smile at them, kiss them and play with them.
2. Babies communicate through specific signals from the moment they are born, and grown-ups may not really understand them.
3. They are incredible pupils and learn from whatever is around them. Their surroundings help to shape their character.
4. Needless to say, babies grow best in an environment where they feel loved, wanted, cared for and protected.

THE BABY’S RELATIONSHIPS

Bonding is essential, and it determines how well the baby grows into social life. How you connect with your baby will significantly influence how they will connect with other people when they are grown up. It is important that they are introduced to a close circle of a few people without meeting many other new faces immediately so that they can develop a relationship with them.

As a parent, you should nurture your baby’s curiosity and help them develop self-esteem, confidence as well as emotional control.

THE BABY’S SIGNALS

As mentioned earlier, babies communicate from birth using special signals that may not be that obvious.

When they are okay or feel good, they will make eye contact, widen their eyes, make small movements with their hands and smile. To show that they need a change they may look away, yawn, pull away and cry.

Babies cry for many different reasons such as hunger, discomfort, loneliness, fear, hot or cold temperatures or just out of sheer boredom. You, as a mom, will need to examine them carefully so that you know what they want each time they cry.

THE BABY’S SENSES

Your baby may see from the moment she was born. They can look at your face and tell that you are the mother. They can also hear well and can recognize their mom’s voice even before birth. Be sure to have their hearing checked at the hospital before taking the baby home.

The baby also has an incredible sense of taste and can tell the difference between different flavours. Just like adults, they are sensitive to touch and will react to pain or pleasure. They have a couple of reflexes which are usually involuntary especially after birth.