What Your Baby Is Trying To Say?

Faced with baby talk, most parents are mystified.

But according to Dr. Steven Shelov, chairman of the Infant And Children's Hospital at Maimonides Medical Center, babies do communicate, even if they can't talk yet. In The Early Show’s Kids Connection series, Dr. Shelov shares five important things your baby is trying to tell you.

According to Dr. Shelov, there is activity going on in the child's brain, even though he or she can't verbalize his houghts. It's important to cultivate a way to communicate with your baby in those first few important months.

The gurgles your child makes are important and something you, as a parent, should respond to, Dr. Shelov says. He believes there are five messages your baby is desperately trying to give you.

1. You are my best plaything: No fancy toy, no pop-up books will replace you. You will provide bigger thrills than any toy you can buy. Babies are very attracted to the human face and can be amused simply by being spoken to. Singing and playing with your child are fantastic ways to bond.
2. Learn to read my cries: You will quickly learn to read the different cries: whether it's a "dirty diaper" cry or "I'm hungry" cry. No one is saying you must be able to determine what your baby's crying about all the time. But according to Dr. Shelov, as you become more accustomed to parenthood, you will learn that your child has different cries.

   A cry of pain will of course sound radically different than a cry of hunger. It's generally loud, high-pitched shriek that pauses and begins again. There are different body languages that go along with these cries.

   Learning your baby's cries take practice and patience. It not only helps you, but it helps him too. It's crucial to a baby's development to learn that mom and dad will aid him in times of need; an increased ability to interpret his cries will help the bonding process.

3. Sometimes I just need to be alone: We think that always engaging a child leads to a happier child, but that may not always be the case. According to Dr. Shelov, sometimes a child does need down time, which also helps him to discover and explore without the use of fancy toys. He points out that the same toy that made the child happy can also agitate the child. It's part of development - certain toys will engage the child for a little bit at a time. Some toys simply overwhelm the child right off the bat, but down the road they might come become valued playthings.

   Children learn on their own timetable, says Dr. Shelov. They need time to explore and discover on their own. So don't be upset if baby isn't interested in a toy or shows signs of distress or frustration with a toy. Give him space and he might come back to the toy later.

4. I will fall asleep when I feel safe: This tip sounds so basic, but according to Dr. Shelov, it is something we tend to forget. For a young child, falling asleep can be scary, so developing a bedtime ritual can help the process of going to bed.
5. Love me: This is the most important message your child is sending you ,according to Dr. Shelov. Your child looks to you for his/her source of happiness and to feel safe. Offer your child all sorts of affection from hugs to kisses. It helps to reinforce a feeling of safety.