Tips to try
Knowing and understanding your baby requires a LOT of patience and time. During this developmental stage, it’s important to lay the foundation for a lifetime of strong communication.
- Talk to your baby. All. The. Time. Tell them when you don’t understand what they need, tell them about what you see around you, tell them about how you are feeling. They may not always understand what you’re talking about, but they’re slowly picking up on words and love to hear your voice.
- Observe out loud when something appears to be exciting for your baby. For example, say, “Wow! Those carrots are yummy, aren’t they?!”
- Listen to music and dance while holding your baby. This is an activity that you can do when your child is happy or when they are upset.
- Snuggle time! Hold your child close and sing into their ears or speak to them softly.
This period of development is such an exciting – but often confusing and frustrating – time for parents and caregivers. Learning to communicate with your baby can be stressful! Take heart! Like all relationships, you need to learn about your little person and the unique and special ways that they communicate.
By taking a few moments to yourself, you are modeling important skills: how to manage emotions, set boundaries, and take some space for yourself.
And for those moments when you just need a break…
- As important as it is to talk to your baby and start building a relationship with them, it is also important to know when you need to step away.
- In moments of frustration, when you can’t calm your infant or you haven’t slept enough, it’s okay to put your baby in a safe space and leave the room, even if they are crying.
- Stepping away doesn’t make you a bad parent! It doesn’t mean you are failing to provide love or that you’ll never be able to calm your child.