Interpreting Your Infant's Body Language

During your baby's first few months you may notice a lot of leg kicking and hand waving. In very young babies these movements are instinctual reflexes and mean very little. At three to four months, a baby begins to develop the coordination to make more deliberate movements. In a few more months, your baby will experience a cognitive growth spurt and begin to understand the cause and effect of his gestures and movements. By nine months most babies have developed the foundations of communication that will eventually lead to talking. Until your baby reaches the talking stage, however, you can learn to read the signs that communicate his or her basic needs.

A baby that turns his head away from something, whether it is a bottle, a toy, or another person, is indicating refusal of what you are offering. This may be one of the first signs your baby learns. Kicking the legs can be a sign of happiness, indicating a baby is engaged and enjoying the current activity. Looking away or breaking eye contact, in contrast, can mean he is tired of a game and wants to play by himself.

Babies generally stop reflexively clenching their fists after a few weeks. Clenched fists in an older baby can indicate frustration or anger. A baby who draws his legs up to his stomach while clenching his fists may be experiencing physical pain. Some babies tug their ears when they have an earache, but it is also quite common for babies to soothe themselves by rubbing an earlobe.

As older babies begin to crawl, they also begin to assert their independence. You may notice more aggressive body language like slapping at things, pushing, or kicking. A baby at this age is exploring an expanded world and the frustration of not being able to communicate may cause more aggressive behavior. This can be a signal that he is ready to start developing language skills. Babies at this stage may start to use verbal sounds as well as body language to communicate. Although it may still be few months before he is using recognizable words, this is the first sing a baby is learning to talk.

For most of the first year of a baby's life he communicates through crying and body language. Although every baby is different, some common nonverbal clues can help you understand what your baby wants or needs. Reading his body language can indicate if your baby is happy, tired, in pain, or just needs a little break from stimulation.

Sources:

http://www.essortment.com/all/babybodylangua_rcmq.htm

http://www.parenting.com/gallery/Baby/Learn-Your-Babys-Body-Language/1/