Babies are fascinating

A baby’s development is dependent on how they interact with other people involved in their lives, in the family, and in the community. Through these interactions their brains make connections and they learn how to manage stress. Feeling loved and cared for is just as important as food and sleep. A baby's brain makes around a billion connections a minute in the first year of life.

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Mothers are uniquely prepared for this during pregnancy. MRI studies have shown that changes occur in a pregnant mum's "social brain" i.e., the regions that help her to read emotions, prioritise protection, and respond with empathy. Emotions are a baby's first language and they slowly learn how to regulate them through early back and forth communications. These opportunities help babies learn how to feel safe.

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Understanding baby states can also help you to tune into your baby's needs. Recognising them can help you to see when they are particularly ready to interact with you (or whether they need to feed, rest or sleep). The Association for Infant Mental Health identifies six different states (see some lovely videos here). There are also some lovely resources for parents on the Brazelton website.