Before your baby can speak they’re already talking to you but just not with words. Those tiny fists, yawns, and funny faces are their language.
Learning to read them can transform your days from constant guessing to confident calm parenting.
Babies often signal hunger before they cry. Laila will squeeze her tiny fists open and shut for milk. Once she wanted solid food, she began to tap her mouth. I started saying “milk-milk” in a playful voice from day one. She quickly learned to smile and get excited when she heard it so that was always helpful.
Catching those early cues lets you stay calm & them responding to familiar words to feed them peacefully instead of dealing with a meltdown. (They get terrible if you don’t understand lol)
Sleepiness has its own tells. Usually I see a zoned-out stare, big yawn, or Laila furiously rubbing her eyes in the car. Omg please trim your child’s nails frequently, because that eye/nose rubbing can get intense and cause bleeding fast.
Having a go to lullaby or bedtime book are solid options. Recognition always triggers comfort in your little one. I also found it helpful to let her nap in public places or nature settings. Because of this she can pretty much sleep in any environment.
Potty cues are surprisingly clear once you know what to watch for. For Laila she has her famous pooping face and a little spitting noise she makes when she pees. For me they are unmistakable once I tuned in.
Outfit changes can turn into a battle when Laila starts arching her back & flipping around. I know she’s testing boundaries.
She seeing how I’ll react. Instead of getting frustrated I sing “This is the way we put on our pants” for every article of clothing. She instantly lights up and starts singing along. Lailas mood changes and the fight disappears.
Every baby’s signals are slightly different, but they’re always noticeable. Pay attention, trust what you see, stay calm & use those repetitive little phrases and songs. I think you’ll build a bond that grows even stronger once the words finally come.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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Photo credit: Aminul hossin On Unsplash
