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Baby Emotions
A Look at Your Infant's Feelings
By Lisa Marie Metzler
Shawna Runt fondly remembers her daughter Hayley's first smile. "I walked over to pick her up and she smiled so big for me, I almost cried!" says the Muskegon, Mich., mother of one.
First smiles are just the start of the amazing emotions a baby will show and develop during the first year. As early as 3 months, a baby already may be "reading" expressions and storing the information in her growing memory bank. These stored experiences will help her to manage and control emotions as she grows.
"Babies learn about others and their emotional expressions when they have the opportunity to watch, listen and participate in social interactions," says Norbert Herschkowitz, M.D., who along with Elinore Chapman Herschkowitz co-authored A Good Start in Life ... Understanding Your Child's Brain and Behavior.
You also can expect to hear the first of many giggles during this time. "Around the age of 4 months, the surest way to get a laugh is make funny little brrr-sounds and kiss or tickle your baby's stomach," says Dr. Herschkowitz.
Your reactions will have a significant influence on how your baby reacts to various situations in the future. Arlene Walker-Andrews, professor of psychology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, says infants develop the ability to read our emotions early on. "We find that infants recognize their parent's expressions by about 3 and one-half months of age," says Walker-Andrews.
Because infants watch their parents so closely, it's important to keep emotions in check. Babies sense emotions of anxiety just as much as happiness. Interact with your baby using pleasant tones and expressions. When your baby is alert and feeling social, respond to her smiles and cooing noises. Listen and talk to your baby. Respond to her in a warm and soothing way when she is anxious or frightened and crying. Try swaddling her in a blanket or carry her close to your body in a sling. Walk or rock her with soft music playing.
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