Pregnancy & Baby 

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Magic moments

Your baby looks at you, her mouth starts to move, her eyes light up and there it is, her first smile. Coram Family on how to communicate with babies before they talk

It’s easy to assume that ‘language’, even ‘communication’, is mainly about speech, but it’s not. It’s also about body language. We hear and see all the meaning that comes from tone of voice, facial expression, gesture and body posture. Body language and the quality of your voice is all that babies have to go on and they make the most of it. Over the first months of life, they are tuned in and working hard to get and keep your attention.

Under three months

• Young babies work to make contact even in the early weeks as their eyes move around to catch your stare.
• The best way to communicate is to hold your baby close and look her in the eye. Talk softly, so she hears your voice. It doesn’t matter what you say.
• Routines of feeding and changing are perfect for communication.
• Your baby’s first smile will come in this period. Smile back and develop the habit of chatting with your baby.
• Babies respond to singing even at this young age and they’re not bothered if you’re tone deaf. Babies as young as three months start to recognise the opening notes of the song you sing when you change them.

Three to six months

Babies have gained a bit more physical control and understand more about the familiar people and events in their daily life.

• Watch out for the way their waving hands and legs reflect their feelings: pleased to see you, curious about the taste of a new food, perhaps tired and a bit bored.
• Babies can make some distinct sounds, more than just crying. They are also watching and listening to you.

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