How do I know if my newborn wants something?

Does he want to be fed?

Your baby is likely to make a particular sound or cry when he's hungry. If so, you'll soon learn to identify it. He may also suck on his hands, fingers or fists.

You may notice your baby turning his head strongly to one side while opening his mouth. This is called rooting.

Does he need to sleep?

Your newborn will probably fuss or cry when he needs to sleep. He may stare with glazed eyes before drifting off, or he may suddenly look quite pale. Other signs to look out for include a lack of interest in playing and not responding to you or what's happening around him.

Is he bored or lonely?

While your newborn will be interested in playing with you from birth, he doesn't need constant entertainment. He'll tell you when he's ready to play by becoming calm and alert, and looking at you with wide eyes and raised eyebrows.

If you notice him trying to find things to look at, this may be a sign that he's feeling bored or lonely. He may open his mouth into an "oo" shape or make noises as if to call you.

In the first few weeks, the best toy for your baby is your face and voice. Try holding him about a foot away and sticking out your tongue. He may copy you! Give him plenty of time to respond before you change your expression. It may take him a while to work out what to do.

Does he have wind?

If your baby has wind, he may cry, fuss or seem agitated. He may screw up his face as though he's in pain, pull his knees up to his stomach or kick his legs.

Is a wet or soiled nappy making him uncomfortable?

Your baby may not mind having a wet or soiled nappy, but some babies really don't like it. If this is the case with your baby, he'll probably let you know by crying or being restless. He may also have more subtle ways of telling you such as becoming pale or red in the face, looking away or losing interest in playing.

Is he too hot or too cold?

You can check your baby's temperature by feeling the back of his neck. Look at his skin colour, too. If it's mottled with patches of red and blue, it may mean his body's trying to adjust to the right temperature.

Your baby needs to wear enough clothes to feel warm, but not hot. Dress him in layers. If he becomes too hot you can remove a layer. If he is too cold, simply add one.

Is he overstimulated?

Some babies are easily overwhelmed, and can only cope with short bursts of play. Your baby may show you he's had enough stimulation by sneezing, yawning, looking pale or very red, or looking away. He may seem drowsy or start to fuss, cry, or push you away.

While your baby was born with the ability to self-soothe, he may still find it hard to settle down when he's overwhelmed. When he was curled up in your womb (uterus), he probably found it easy to suck his hands or fingers and soothe himself to sleep. But after he's born it may not be as easy for him to reach them!

By watching your baby's movements, you can tell if he likes to put his fist, hand or fingers near or into his mouth. You can also try holding him calmly in your arms or over your shoulder. Or put him down in a quiet place with your hand resting gently on his belly.

You'll learn if he likes to lie in a particular way, or if it helps him to look at something. Once you know what works for him, you can help him to develop his natural self-soothing techniques.

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