Video Series: Learn the Secret Language of Your Baby’s Cues
Cues are the way babies communicate with grown-ups before they learn to talk. Understand your baby’s cues in these short videos
Baby – Article by 
Baby cues: an introduction
Viewing time: 1m 56s
What you will learn in this video:
- Babies use non-verbal language, known as ‘cues’ to let us know what they need
- Watch your baby closely and you’ll see they do certain things when hungry or tired.
- Responding to your baby ’s cues whenever you see them, quickly and lovingly, is best for baby and makes them feel secure
- It’s normal for a baby to cry and it’s estimated a baby will cry for 3 hours a day as a minimum!
- It might seem like baby is crying for no reason. It may be colic but know that 90% of crying is non-medical
- Each baby will develop their own cues and don’t put pressure on yourself if you don’t understand your baby cues
Baby cues: “I’m hungry!”
Viewing time: 2m 09s
What you will learn in this video:
- Newborns need to feed every 2/3 hours
- If she starts to fuss, she may want feeding
- Some signs showing she is ready for a feed may be opening her mouth wide and making sucking noises
- The video shows some of these cues in action
Baby cues: “I’m tired!”
Viewing time: 4m 41s
What you will learn in this video:
- Newborns may feed then go to straight to sleep
- But as they get older and stay awake longer, it may be harder to tell when it’s nap time
- Sleeping is a skill that a baby needs to learn
- Possible cues may be jerky movement, an aching back, staring into the distance, yawning, fussing, whining, clenched fists, frowning, grizzling and losing interest in people and toys
- The video shows some of these cues in action
Baby cues: “I want to play!”
Viewing time: 2m 24s
What you will learn in this video:
- During the first few weeks of life, newborns generally just feed and sleep, feed and sleep
- But as they grow, a baby will want to interact more
- A baby may want to play if they have bright and wide eyes, they are studying your face, making eye contact, smiling, reaching out, cooing
- The video shows some of these cues in action
Baby cues: “I need a break!”
Viewing time: 1m 12s
What you will learn in this video:
- As babies grow, they won’t always want a nap but may want a change of activity
- When baby needs a break she may look away, squirming, kicking, or turn her head away
- The video shows some of these cues in action
