by Rebecca K.

Created on: January 23, 2012   Last Updated: January 24, 2012

Babies have fewer tool to communicate with us than adults. They have two things: their voice and their body language. At first glance you might think babies are still or random about the way they move, but look closer and you will see they have a purpose for everything they do. As parents or caretakers, it's up to us to interpret what our baby is trying to tell us and to respond accordingly.

Newborns don't move a whole lot. They can move their arms and start to hold the neck/head up. The arms say a lot as do their legs, a baby crying and kicking their legs could have tummy pain. Pick them up to burp or gently pedal the legs can help them release gas. If you are incorrect in your guess, most babies enjoy the extra attention anyway.

Three to six month olds are a little more specific. They can grasp objects, pull hair, and learn to explore. They may start to smile, make a pucker face when new foods are introduced and become curious about new sights. During six months and beyond, teething behaviors become  evident. During teething a baby will stuff his fingers in his mouth, even a fist. They will chew and drool and get quite agitated. If you baby is constantly chewing on his fingers and seems distressed, teething is likely imminent.

Also, a baby who pulls at his ears and scream or cry may have an ear infection. This is a common baby ailment and ear pulling is a great indicator of such a condition.

You can tell a lot about what babies are trying to say by following their eye. What are they looking at? If he looks at you he'd like to interact. If he looks away he'd like some quiet time or is interested in a new object. You can make a baby happy by letting him touch a new object or surface (assuming it's safe) when he shows interest.

Older babies, nine to 12 months, can clearly communicate. They can point at objects and call parents "Mama" or "Dada." This takes a great deal of mystery out of what they're trying to tell us. As your child grows through the different stages, you will see more and more  indicators of clear and  concise communication. If you are attentive, you will learn what your little one is saying and you will be able to make them feel secure and happy in their  environment.

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