Babies communicate with us from the moment they are born. They use sounds, facial expressions, body movements and eye contact to show us how they are feeling and what they need. These are called engagement and disengagement cues.
Learning to recognise your baby’s cues can help you understand when they are ready to interact and when they need a break. Responding to these signals can help your baby feel safe, understood and supported, while also helping you build a stronger connection with each other.
These are signals that the baby is happy, ready to play, or ready to engage.
Examples include moving towards the caregiver, moving their face towards people, smiling, and slow and smooth movements of arms and leg.
These are signals that the baby has had enough, is sad, or is stressed.
