Photo by Victoria Rain
Although infants cannot communicate with words at a young age, they have ways to express themselves. We’ll be talking about how infants convey their wants and needs.
Jo Ann Gramlich, award-winning author and speech-language pathologist, wrote a book titled “Talk, Play, and Read” for the world. It aims to show parents they can start talking and interacting with their children as early as birth. Jo Ann Gramlich’s book on interactive activities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers also discusses how parents and caretakers can do it.
It’s normal for parents to be excited about bonding with their newborn after getting home from the hospital. But how can both new and old parents tell what their baby is trying to communicate to them?
That’s what we will be looking into in this post.
Find Out How Infants Express Their Needs to Parents and Caretakers
Communication is vital in how a baby establishes relationships with parents and other family members. It would be incorrect to assume that young children interact with others very little.
It’s been observed that the first couple of months is exhilarating during an infant’s communication development. An infants communication skills are built and expanded on throughout the year before a child utters their first words or phrases.
Understanding how infants express their needs from infancy to 12 months might help you know how your child develops their social skills.
Communication Styles for Infants
Babies communicate and get their needs met in various ways between the ages of one to three months old:
1. Crying – Crying allows infants to communicate with their parents and caretakers. It’s also possible for babies to have fussy periods during this time. They might even get overwhelmed with all the new sounds and sights the world exposes them to.
Jo Ann Gramlich’s book on interactive activities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers can help caretakers and parents communicate with infants. The “Talk, Play, and Read” book provides steps and activities readers can utilize.
2. Smiling to People – The initial period of one to three months demonstrates a time of extensive discovery for infants. Even though the casual observer may think that babies in this stage cannot express themselves, that isn’t exactly true. Infants are constantly reacting and taking in the world around them.
Studies reveal that babies are responding to environmental stimuli through ahs, oohs, and cooing. Babies frequently develop smiles at this stage, much to the parent’s surprise. From then on, infants start to have “conversations” by exchanging smiles and becoming more attentive.
At this stage, infants begin to immerse themselves in the presence of other family members intently.
3. Makes Other Sounds Aside from Crying
Even though crying is an infant’s initial mode of communication, they will eventually learn to make other sounds. When they are focused on something, they might gurgle or coo. If they show curiosity and interest in something, they might even make a few sounds at the sight or touch of it.
One thing that parents will notice is that infants react to loud noises. Babies can already hear their mother’s heartbeat during the 18th week of pregnancy. Infants will usually respond to loud noises within their environment the first months of being born.
Now that we know some of the infant’s communication styles, it’s only normal for parents to wonder, “How should I expect my newborn child to communicate?”
How Should Parents Expect Infants to Communicate?
While infants are at this age, crying is a babies’ primary means of expression. The parents need not be concerned because it is pretty natural. Babies may cry as a way of adjusting to sights and noises in their environment. They cry to let their parents know when they need something.
You occasionally might be unable to pinpoint the precise cause of your baby’s weeping. If the baby is not injured or sick, do not let an infant’s crying stress you out. You can soothe a crying baby by rocking the baby, holding the baby close, or walking with the baby.
Figuring out how infants express their needs will help parents nurture their baby’s wants and needs. They will then be capable of providing the child with a healthy space to grow, be loved, and remain safe.
Jo Ann Gramlich’s book on interactive activities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers can further help parents and caretakers as they engage with their little ones. Grab a copy of Talk, Play, and Read by clicking here today, and start communicating with your infant and bonding with your kids!
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