Transcript: 3 Newborn Cues Most Parents Miss – Spot the Signs Before the Tears Start!

This is a text transcript from The First Time Mum’s Chat podcast. The episode is called 3 Newborn Cues Most Parents Miss – Spot the Signs Before the Tears Start! and you can click on the link to view the full episode page, listen to the episode and view the show notes.

I’m Helen Thompson, a child care educator and baby massage instructor, and welcome to First Time Mums Chat. If you’re a new mum navigating the wonderful, but sometimes overwhelming, early months of parenthood, you’re in the right place. This podcast is where we dive into all things baby related, offering you practical tips and gentle guidance to help you feel more confident and connected with your little one.

Let me ask you this, have you ever wished your baby came with a built in translation guide? You’re feeding, changing and cuddling them, but sometimes they still seem unsettled and you’re left wondering what am I missing? Well, the truth is, babies are communicating with us all the time, just without words.

In today’s episode, I’m going to show you how to decode your baby’s secret language, those subtle body movements, facial expressions, and little sounds that give you clues before the crying even starts. You’ll learn, the early signs of hunger that can save you from the full blown meltdowns. What it means when your baby arches their back, grimaces or squirms. How simple touch techniques and baby massage can help soothe discomfort. These insights can make parenting feel so, so much easier and help you build a deeper bond with your baby. So if you’re ready to stop second guessing and start truly understanding your baby’s needs, let’s get started.

So first, let’s talk about why non verbal cues are so important. Babies don’t have words yet, but their bodies are incredibly expressive. Non verbal cues are their way of saying, Hey, I need something, or even, I’m all good right now. Learning to recognize these cues early can save you and your baby a lot of frustration. It’s like cracking a secret code that helps you meet their needs before they start crying. Let’s face it, the fewer meltdowns the better for everyone’s sanity. For example, have you ever seen a baby turn their head away from you when you’re trying to feed them? That’s not rejection. It’s their way of saying, I’m full or maybe you’ve noticed them stretching their arms after waking up and that’s their version of saying, Ah, I’m ready to get moving.

Now, let’s dive into the two biggies, hunger and discomfort. These are the cues you’ll probably see most often in those early months. The hungry cues, other than the ‘ne’ sound in the last episode, or the hungry cues, before the crying starts, they are subtle signs your baby might be hungry. Rooting, turning their head and opening their mouth, as if they’re searching for food. Sucking motions, they might suck on their hands, fingers or even their blanket. Smacking lips, this one is a personal favourite because it’s like they’re saying, Hey! I could go for a snack.

By catching these cues early, you can feed your baby before they reach full on hunger mode. Trust me, it’s much easier to settle a rooting baby than a hungry one. I’ve learnt that the hard way during many, many snack time meltdowns.

Discomfort cues are equally important, but sometimes trickier to spot. Here’s what to look out for. Squirming or arching their back. This could mean gas, a wet nappy, or just that they’re not comfortable in their current position. Or they could be hot or they could be cold. There are many options there. Pulling legs up to their tummy is often a sign of gas or colic. It could mean they just need to release that gas in their tummy. Grimacing or turning red, it might mean they’re struggling with something like a digestive issue or even being too hot or too cold, as I mentioned before.

When you see these cues, it’s time to check the usual suspects, nappies, temperature. and comfort and if you’ve ruled out everything and they’re still unsettled, a gentle tummy massage in a clockwise direction can help ease gas or colic and other digestive issues.

I’ve seen this work wonders for babies, during my nannying days and of course through baby massage. If you’d like to find out more about how you can help your baby’s digestion with baby massage I’ve got a Colicky Baby 101 course, which I designed just for this purpose. I’ll put the link in the show notes

Making it personal and fun. One of the best things about learning your baby’s non verbal cues is how personal it is. Every baby is different and I really want to stress that. Every baby is different and that’s really important to remember and their cues are unique as their little personalities.

Their cues are as unique as the little personalities. For example, I once cared for a baby who would puff out his cheeks when he was overtired. It was the funniest thing. Another little girl I looked after, had a way of scrunching up her nose whenever she needed a nappy change, almost like saying mum, this is unacceptable, it smells, change me please. The more you observe your baby, the more you’ll start to notice these patterns and don’t be afraid to talk to them about what you see.

For example, if they’re rooting, you can say, Oh, I see you’re feeling hungry. Let’s get some milk. Not only does this help you connect, but it also teaches them that their cues have meaning. Over time this kind of communication builds trust and confidence for both of you. This is one reason why when we massage our babies, we always ask for permission. In my baby massage classes, many parents initially find this idea challenging to grasp.

How can a baby give you permission? Well, that is a very good question when they can’t talk. This is exactly why it’s so important to watch and observe their non verbal cues. Babies are constantly communicating through their body language, facial expressions and sounds and learning to interpret these signals is a powerful way to ensure they feel respected and understood, even from the earliest days.

Building connection through touch. Non verbal communication isn’t just about reading your baby’s signals, it’s also about how you respond and one of the most powerful ways to connect with your baby is through touch. Simple actions like rubbing their back when they’re squirming, or holding their hands when they’re unsettled, can be incredibly soothing.

If you’ve been using baby massage, you can adapt those techniques to fit what your baby needs in the moment. For example, a gentle tummy massage can help with gas or colic, but it’s important to always remember to do it in a clockwise direction, as that is the way the bowel moves. A back massage can relax a tired baby and help them wind down.

There are other things you can do in massage to help them wind down. You’ll discover that in some of my courses. Even a simple stroke along the arms or legs can communicate, I’m here and I understand. Touch is just comforting. It’s a way of saying, I see you, I hear you, and I’m here for you and that’s a message every baby needs to feel.

Learning to read your baby’s non verbal cues is a journey but it’s one that can make parenting so much more intuitive and rewarding. By understanding their signals you’re not just meeting their needs, you’re building a foundation of trust and connection that will last a lifetime.

And that brings us to the end of this episode of non verbal communication. But trust me, we’re not quite finished yet. Over the next two episodes, I’ll be joined by several amazing guests who will help me wrap up this communication series in the most powerful way. We’ll be diving even deeper into ways we can truly listen, connect and understand our little ones in ways that might just change how you see communication altogether.

If today’s episode gave you a aha moment or helped you feel more confident in reading your baby’s cues, I’d love to hear from you. Your insights and experiences help other mums just like you feel supported on this incredible journey and before you go don’t forget if you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out what’s coming next. The upcoming episodes are packed with even more valuable insights you won’t want to miss. Plus if you know another mom who’s struggling to understand her baby’s needs, share this episode with her. It could make all the difference.

Thanks for tuning in and I’ll see you next time for an insightful conversation you won’t forget. Until then, trust your instincts, listen to your baby, and enjoy the journey of motherhood.