How Do You Learn to Communicate with Your Newborn?

At birth, the baby has to face many more changes than at any other time in his life. Separating from the mother's body, the child must learn to take care of himself, to be autonomous, to use his reflexes, to swallow and digest food.

He must breathe to receive the necessary oxygen, keep his airways clean, and become accustomed to all the surprises offered by the world around him - sounds, smells, tastes, objects to be studied. Everything is new and everything is unique.

The full-term baby is ready for these cardinal changes. The newborn does not only act on reflexes. The received reflexes confirm only the proper development of the nervous system and form the basis for the formation of social connections and cognitive abilities.

Although it seems so, newborns are not passive. On the contrary, they have a range of skills needed to interact with the environment. Some reflexes, such as sucking, help him survive, and others, such as stepping "in the air," form the basis for his walking skills, which will develop later. Tactile sense, smell, taste, and hearing are very well developed.

Less sight. Children go through six levels of arousal. Crying causes serious discomfort for parents. However, it is necessary to know that only the child's reactions, but also the mother's abilities to understand them, will allow specialists to assess the child's condition, but will also ensure a correct and sustainable development of the child.

Is my child developing well?

To have a definite answer to these questions, you need to pay attention to the reflexes. These indicate, in particular, the general neurological condition.

Conditioned reflexes are based on unconditioned reflexes. For example, the sucking reflex is activated near the breast, even in the first days of life. Another reflex allows the baby to follow the movements of his own hands so that later he will be able to establish the connection between the hands and the touch of the desired object.

Other reflexes will encourage him to explore the environment - including crawling or walking if you try to keep him upright. However, they will disappear in a few days and will reappear in half a year or a year when it will start to work.

Another powerful reflex is grabbing. If you touch the baby's palm, he will immediately squeeze his fingers. This is an autonomous reaction, called a grasping reflex. Before the baby can grasp something intentionally, he must be able to fix his gaze on the object and be able to follow it well enough, also coordinating his movements. Later, it will be an important factor in his development, as it helps him coordinate his gaze and movement.

Uncontrolled movements are an indication that the little one is developing well. These are not, as some parents believe, signs of future problems.

Why are babies crying? When it's a sign for you

Why are babies crying? By crying, they are communicating with other people. From whining, or crying louder, he may pass on different information. Thus, different types of crying transmit different information.

It is important to know that babies always cry for a reason. Their needs are usually simple and can be easily met by food, warmth, hugging, or rocking. But sometimes he will reject all your attempts to help him. In these cases, the parents will feel helpless and it seems that they will not be able to ensure their comfort. Here are some reasons why babies cry:

Hunger -  One of the most common reasons for crying in the newborn is hunger. He will stop crying after the milk reaches his stomach.

Excessive stimulation  - loud, sudden sounds, shrill lights - can all overwhelm you at some point. The level of stimulation depends on mood and temperament. What distracts him when he is awake can upset him when he is irritated or hungry.

Cold -  the awake child will start to cry if he feels cold. Crying will stop immediately if you take him to a warm room.

Uncontrolled movements  - Most newborns have tics and get dizzy when they are sleepy or ready to fall asleep. Some babies wake up scared of their movements. They cry, fall asleep, move suddenly, get scared, and then cry again.

They will have a calmer sleep if they are wrapped or wrapped neither too tightly nor too loosely. Wrapping prevents uncontrolled movements. Babies should be wrapped in the most natural position, with their arms slightly bent at the elbows and their legs slightly bent at the knees. It is recommended that the baby's hands be left free so that he can suck his fingers.

Lack of physical contact - Babies who stop crying when they are held in their arms and who start crying when they are lowered need physical contact. They are in a good mood when they are held in their arms because their instincts dictate that, and because it is natural for them to do so.

Irritability - Some children may be irritated more easily than others. Babies who can't relax calm down due to rhythmic movements or sounds. They appear to block the causes of internal or external irritation. Sucking can help them fall asleep in case of general irritability.

How to understand the causes of irritation in babies?

Irritability in children is based on biological factors. For parents to understand what is happening to their little ones, they need to examine their temperament carefully, because the specific style of behavior will help them find solutions.

The little ones will be irritated because they are unable to interact with the environment, but they are also unable to adjust their mood, for example, to stop crying when the cause of the irritation has disappeared. Parents should not panic but observe his temperament and the method that helps him get back to his well-being.