READING A BABY'S SIGNS

I am content:

No crying or fussing
Looking around
Alert
No flailing – just relaxed movements

I am self – soothing:

Sucking on pacifier contently
Fussing very little
Same as above

I am overloaded:

Yawning
Flailing of arms or legs
Crying
Won’t look at you – stares at a spot over your shoulder
Arching of back and neck
Rubbing eyes
Tremors
Twitches
Coughing
Grasping
Sighing
Sneezing

Infants use cues as mentioned above for interaction and to signal a time for you to recognize they have had enough stimulation and are becoming stressed or disorganized. This form of recognition is used in preemies and in full term babies. There are four kinds of clues for you to be familiar with.