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Feeding Your Baby's Developmental Cravings

Recognizing Baby's Cues

By iParenting

"Babies don't come with a handbook," goes the old adage. Yet as more is learned about baby development, the more knowledge there is to help guide you through the first few months. But while you can, and should, learn about the stages of development, the best teacher is your baby.

Babies communicate by subtle cues and the not-so-subtle method: crying. When you understand the normal course of development that happens from birth to 3 months, you can read these cues and relate them to what your baby needs.

A baby will begin to make eye contact soon after birth, but, according to Dr. A. Caroline Harris of Sacramento, Calif., a newborn's sense of smell and touch are also important bonding senses. Harris, a professor of psychology at Consumnes River College and author of Baby's First Year Journal: A Day-to-Day Guide to Your Baby's Development during the First Twelve Months, says getting to know your new baby and building an attachment to her is the most important goal of the first few weeks.

"Babies can focus early on from about 10 inches away for a few seconds, and the time gradually builds," says Dr. Harris. "What they actually do, at first, is study the parts of the face with the most contrast – like the hairline and jawline. It's almost as if they're getting an impression of the face." Cuddling your baby, making eye contact during feedings and skin-to-skin contact will allow the two of you to learn about each other together.

A newborn doesn't really play with toys, but providing visual stimulation from birth is important to Baby's brain development, Dr. Harris says. Early on, provide high contrast toys – like mobiles – for her to look at. Later, mirrors and play gyms often fascinate curious babies.

Want to see more?

• Move It Baby! Motor Learning in the Young Child
• Decoding Your Preemie's Signals
• Reasons to Read with your Baby
• Talk About It

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