What Babies Expressions Are Trying To Say

1. Arching back

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When a toddler arches their back it's basically an act of rebellion but it can also be in reaction to pain. Sometimes babies can suffer with trapped wind, heartburn or just moving too quickly. It takes time to learn your baby's expressions and the understand what they mean.

2. What you should do

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If your baby does arch their back in the middle of feeding and cries or spits excessively then it could be a sign of acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease which is a condition in which the backward flow of acid from the stomach irritates the esophagus.

3. Head banging

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Seeing your baby bang their head like it's a drumstick can be quite distressing at times, especially when it's against a hardwood floor. But a lot of kids do this without appearing to be in any pain. "Babies find the rhythmic back-and-forth motion soothing," says Catherine Nelson, M.D., a pediatrician at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California.

4. What you should do

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"If your baby bangs their head for long periods of time instead of engaging with others or playing with their toys, then you should bring it to your pediatrician's attention at a checkup," says Dr. Brown. Don't worry about it, but don't just completely ignore it.

5. Grabbing their ears

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"Many parents jump to that conclusion, but most of the time your baby has just realized that she has ears," says Dr. Nelson. However, it could just be a sign of fever, a stuffy nose or trouble sleeping at night. Remember your baby can't speak so they try to tell you things through their expressions and movements.

6. What you should do

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"Sometimes babies will pull on their ears when they're teething, particularly when the 1-year molars are coming in," says Dr. Brown. Bring your child some teething rings and extra snuggles to make sure they feel as comfortable as possible. Don't automatically assume it's an ear infection.

7. Clenched fists

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Does your baby appear to be ready for a fist fight? "Most newborns hold their hands in this position at rest," says Dr. Brown. Clenched fists can sometimes be a sign of stress or hunger. "I find that when babies are very hungry, they tense up all over."

8. What you should do

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For babies under three months, it probably doesn't mean they're feeling hungry or being fussy. Try to introduce toys to them, like a soft rattle for them to hold on to. If they continue to clench their fists then just consult your doctor and get some advice.

9. Scrunched up knees

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"This position is usually a sign of abdominal discomfort, either from having gas, passing a bowel movement, or being constipated," says Dr. Nelson. Your baby is mostly likely passing wind or having a poo - they're not doing an ab workout! This position is nothing to worry about!

10. What you should do

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If this becomes a constant issue and your baby appears to be distressed or unwell and you're breastfeeding, then you should check your own diet because certain foods you're eating could be the culprit like broccoli or beans. If you're transitioning between breastfeeding to formula this could also be the issue.

11. Arm Jerks

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If you're putting your baby down in their crib and their arms flail to the side, startling them wide awake then this is the typical reflex for newborns. The Moro reflex to be exact which is what causes infants to suddenly throw their arms to the sides and then quickly bring them back towards the middle.

12. What you should do

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This reflex usually disappears after 3 to 4 months and is a response to a sudden loss of support. Infants feel like they're falling so to avoid this (the startling wake up call) swaddle them for naps and bedtime. There really is nothing worse than waking up feeling startled is there...

13. Looking at you

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A baby's first sign of learning anything from you is them observing you reacting to certain situations. They begin learning whether a situation is good or bad and from then on they begin to grow mentally. Each stage in your child's life is always as important as the other.

14. What you should do

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Making different faces at the baby and naming each face with your voice is said to help the baby understand the emotion behind it so they can react accordingly. If there's a new person around your baby, make sure they're friendly around them and let the baby see you smiling together so they know they're not a threat.

15. Cooing, laughing, broken babbling

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Babies are attempting variations in their voices when they're making these noises. This is their way of matching their pitch and modulations to suit yours. At 4-6 months, babies start using their tongue, babbling continuously and create letters and words to communicate their feelings to you.

16. What you should do

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You should spend some time having conversations with your baby when they're awake and throughout the day. This allows them to hear you talk and to hear what's going on around them. Ask them questions and allow them time to reply in their own little way.

17. Furrowing eyebrows and pouting lips

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This is seen as a bit of a stressful face and it can mean that your baby is slightly overwhelmed at that moment in time. Maybe there are too many people around them and they don't feel like they can catch a break. They want to be alone or more comfortable.

18. What you should do

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Put your baby in a cradle and rock it gently or lift their arms and sway slowly. Allow them to calm down and relax and then place them back where they were earlier on. This allows them to understand that everything is alright and that they can be fine and calm.

19. Power kicks

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Kicking usually happens when your baby hits the one month mark as they discover their limbs. This is around the time they start finding activities and things in general a little more interesting - they'll begin to get bored more easily so they'll start kicking around as a play.

20. What you should do

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Maybe their diaper is full or something is itching or poking them? Look at their face to see if they're irritated but most of the time kicking means they're entertaining themselves. Help them out buy doing some bicycle kicks or moving their legs in different directions.

21. Being extremely joyful

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Your baby will smile a lot and make various different sounds by giggling a lot and opening their mouth wide. When wrinkles start forming on the side of their eyes you know they're really feeling joyful. This is a clear indication that they're liking whatever they see.

22. What you should do

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Keep doing whatever you're doing at that time! If your baby is dancing then carry on, talk back to them and let them see a smile on your face. Make funny noises at them and use names like mommy, daddy and play games so they start associating what they like.

23. Small low pitched cry

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When your baby wakes up from a nap or when they're feeling hungry then they will make it known by crying in a short, low-pitched manner for a second or two. If nothing comes from that situation then the cry will get progressively louder and longer, so you know what to do.

24. What you should do

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When you first hear the cry attend to your baby so they know that you've acknowledged them. This doesn't mean that you're spoiling your baby with needless attention because they actually need you at that moment. Check if they start sucking because they it means they're hungry.

25. Intense and investigative stare

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Babies are fascinated with everything and everyone when they're really young so if something catches their attention they begin to stare to understand what they're actually looking at. If you see your child staring at you as you move away then they're likely just keeping track of you.

26. What you should do

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If your baby is staring at a object then let them carry on. If it's an object or a toy then see if they want to play with it. If they're staring at your as you leave then you can quickly play peek-a-boo with them and let them see you enter from a different door so they know you will return.

27. Clumsy clapping

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When babies are first discovering their limbs in the early months, it takes them a while to understand how to coordinate and function in the correct manner. If your child touches their palms together and hears a sound this will shock them and make them want to explore even more.

28. What you should do

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Look at your child in admiration and clap along with them. This will allow them to discover his arms and try to attempt different movements like raising their hands or waving. Play clapping games with them and let them understand the power of nonverbal communication.

29. Grunting sounds

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If your baby starts making 'grrrrr' sounds then it generally means that they're in some kind of discomfort. Sometimes they may seem tightened or might bend their knees and pull their legs up to their chest which is quite a common occurrence in young children.

30. What you should do

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Your baby may be suffering with gas problems, so just gently rub their stomach and move their legs around so that the air can be easily released. Pick them up and rest them on their back or on your chest to relieve any pressure on their abdomen that could escalate.