Emotions, Bonding and Communication

How babies express feelings

How babies express feelings

Emotional communication begins before speech Infants do not need spoken language to communicate meaningful internal states. Their nervous systems continuously respond to hunger, pain, temperature, fatigue, touch, sound, light, and social contact. Observable behavior is the outward result of these interacting physiological and emotional processes. A baby may therefore be communicating a feeling, a bodily […]

When babies start smiling socially

When babies start smiling socially

What is a social smile? A social smile is a smile that occurs in the context of human interaction. A baby may look toward a caregiver’s face, respond to a familiar voice, or smile during a gentle exchange. The expression may initially be brief or inconsistent, but it represents an important early step in social […]

Caregiver Interaction and Baby Brain Development

Caregiver Interaction and Baby Brain Development

Why Relationships Matter to the Developing Brain During infancy, the brain undergoes rapid growth in synapses, myelination, and functional specialization. Neural circuits are shaped by both intrinsic biological programs and the sensory and social environment. Caregiver interaction is one of the most consistent features of that environment. A baby repeatedly experiences another person’s voice, face, […]

When babies show emotions

When babies show emotions

Emotional expression begins before language Newborns do not need words to communicate an internal state. Crying, facial tension, limb movements, changes in muscle tone, rooting, sucking, gaze aversion, and variations in vocal intensity all provide information. These behaviors are not perfectly specific. A cry may reflect hunger, pain, fatigue, temperature discomfort, a wet diaper, or […]