Your Baby Has Emotions, Too

Infants quickly understand and show emotions in their own way. Your baby learns to make himself happy. He watches things that interest him. He finds ways to occupy himself. Little by little, your baby also finds out how to get a response from you.

Your baby can show how happy or how excited he is. You see this when you play and talk with him. Research shows that babies are fussier when parents or other adults argue. It may be best to protect your baby from the ups and downs between the adults in his life.

Help your baby show different emotions. Help him show happiness. Help him show sadness. Talk to him about how he feels about particular things —“That big dog sort of scares you, doesn’t it?” Do this when you are with him. This helps him make sense of the world. He will have the skills to join in successfully.

Babies start out with easy-to-read types of emotions. They might smile or laugh to show happiness. They might pout or cry to show they are mad or sad. Over time, they show many different emotions. They will show pride. They will show worry. With your help, your baby will learn more ways to respond to what is happening in his life.

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