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Baby's First Emotions

Learning to Identify and Nurture Little Feelings

After nine months of reading baby books, first-time mom Kelli Cedars of Kokomo, Ind., knew at what stage her baby should be able to roll over, push up and crawl. But when it came to her son's emotional development, "I was pretty clueless," she says. "Other than the social smile, I didn't know what to expect or if there were things I should be doing to help him along."

"I don't think a lot of parents give much thought to emotional development," says Child Development Specialist Vicki Folds, vice president of education for Tutor Time Learning Systems, Inc. "But more parents are beginning to realize how important they are in the first year of their baby's life. They're laying the foundation for their baby's personality later on, and it's the time when babies are forming their impressions.

"Exactly where Mom and Dad fit into the picture is where some parents are looking for guidance. And that's no surprise – emotional development isn't worn on the sleeve like physical development," Folds says.

With that in mind, here are some general rules of thumb for when your baby will begin expressing particular emotions:

• "At age 3 to 4 months, babies have more of a sense of joy and an intense interest in the human world. They'll also express anger and surprise about this time. They want to feel joy; they need lots of face-to-face contact and cuddling," says Dr. Rebecca Unger, a pediatrician with Children's Memorial Hospital and Northwestern Children's Practice in Chicago. It's around this age that babies are beginning to recognize and differentiate between family members. They're trying to attract the attention of their parents, they smile easily and they respond with coos and gurgles.
• Months 4 to 6 bring lots of baby talk and laughs, and your baby begins responding to his name, but those joyous moments are often accompanied by loud protests, abrupt mood changes and the beginning of stranger anxiety.
• From 6 to 8 months, you might notice a sense of humor in your baby, who is beginning to imitate behaviors. By now, your baby also has a very strong desire to be included in social situations, though he may start exhibiting shyness. Your tone of voice is helping your baby understand just what "no" means, and he's learning that his actions, good or bad, have consequences.
• When your baby reaches 8 to 10 months, he may start yelling for attention, putting on a show for friends and family – particularly if he's rewarded with applause – and becoming bored with the repetitive activities that used to entertain him for hours. It's at this age that the baby will also begin developing more complex emotions like sadness and fear.
• By the time he's 10 to 12 months old, your baby will likely express fear of strange places and situations, give more attention to his favorite people and toys, look to Mom and Dad for cues on whether he should be frightened and start throwing tantrums.

Want to see more?

• Baby Emotions: An Inside Look at Your Infant's Feelings
• Baby's First Words: Speech Milestones and Tips for Parents
• Momentous Milestones: The First of Many Markers in Your Baby's Physical and Emotional Development
• Talk about it!

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