Understanding Your Baby’s Language: How the First 3 Months Build Strong Foundations for Development

The first three months with your newborn are full of discovery — and often, uncertainty. Every cry, gaze, and movement is your baby’s way of communicating. Understanding this early "language" is key to meeting their needs, building a strong bond, and supporting healthy development from the very start.

Your baby is already observing, learning, and connecting with you

In this article, we explore how newborns communicate in their earliest days and how tools like the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioural Assessment can help you decode your baby’s cues with confidence.

Why the First 3 Months Matter

From the moment they are born, babies are learning about the world through their caregivers. They are not passive observers — they come equipped with the ability to express needs, respond to touch and sound, and build early patterns of connection and trust.

The first three months are often referred to as the “fourth trimester” — a sensitive period where babies rely on their caregivers to help regulate their emotions, feel safe, and gradually adapt to life outside the womb.

Babies learn best in the context of safe, responsive relationships. Understanding their cues early on helps lay the foundation for emotional security and future development.

Understanding Your Baby’s Unique Signals

Every gaze and movement is part of their language.

Every baby is different. Some are alert and easily stimulated, while others need more time to settle or recover after interaction. Learning to read your baby’s individual signs can make a powerful difference in how you respond — and how confident you feel as a parent.

One tool that supports this is the Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS), developed by paediatrician Dr. T. Berry Brazelton.

This gentle, observational approach helps parents discover:

• How your baby communicatesRecognise their six different states (from deep sleep to full alertness), and learn when they are ready for interaction — or when they need rest.

• How they self-regulateUnderstand the natural ways your baby tries to calm themselves, and how you can support those efforts when they cry or become overstimulated.

• What they enjoy and respond toDiscover how your baby reacts to sounds, sights, and touch — and how to offer stimulation in ways that feel enjoyable, not overwhelming.

• Their body language and reflexesObserve how your baby moves, what they can tolerate, and when they’re reaching their limits.

• What supports restful sleepIdentify what helps your baby settle and restore — crucial for both brain development and emotional wellbeing.

Babies communicate through small, subtle cues — by learning to notice them, you can respond more calmly and effectively.

Why This Matters for Parents

Early parenthood comes with a flood of advice — from books, social media, or well-meaning friends and family. But ultimately, what matters most is understanding what works for your baby.

By learning your baby’s unique signals, you can:

• Recognise when they’re hungry, tired, overstimulated, or need comfort

• Adjust daily routines to fit their rhythm (rather than the other way around)

• Feel more confident in your caregiving decisions

• Deepen the bond of trust between you and your child

Many parents describe this process as “meeting their baby all over again, but in a deeper way.”

Building Strong Foundations for Life

Your baby’s first and most important relationship is with you. The way you respond in these early weeks shapes their emerging sense of safety, trust, and connection — which later influences how they learn, explore, and relate to the world.

Taking time to observe, listen, and understand your baby’s early communication is not just soothing — it's also scientifically proven to support healthy brain development and secure attachment.

Want to Learn More?

The Brazelton Package, delivered by trained perinatal practitioners like Maya Szombat, offers a gentle, structured opportunity to learn about your baby’s cues — either in the first month after birth or during the final weeks of pregnancy as preparation.

It’s a chance to explore your baby’s unique temperament and communication style, with expert guidance and emotional support.

Key Takeaway

Every baby has a voice, even before they can speak. By learning to observe and respond to that voice, you give your child the best possible start. And you give you

rself the confidence and calm that come from truly understanding your baby.

If you’d like to discover your baby’s language through the Brazelton Package by Maya Szombat , you can book your session via FOUR MAMAS even during the last month of pregnancy in preparation, or in the first month after birth.