The Secret Language of Babies

From WikiParenting

Dunstan Baby Language – Learn the Meaning of Your Baby’s Cries

In 2006, musician Priscilla Dunstan released a DVD titled , Dunstan Baby Language – Learn the Meaning of your Baby’s Cries that was destined for worldwide publicity and acclaim. The DVD promises to help frustrated parents unlock the meaning in their preverbal babies’ cries.

[edit] The Theorist

As a toddler, Ms. Dunstan had a photographic memory for sound. By age 4, she could hear a Mozart concert on the piano and play it back perfectly. Ms. Dunstan claims that her gift for detecting delicate sound nuances has helped her hear a special "second language" beyond English, allowing her to detect moods and even diagnose illnesses. Her sensitive ear unlocked the mysteries of new sounds when Ms. Dunstan became a mother. The musician claims that she was able to pick out certain patterns in her son’s cries and then remember what those patterns were later on when he cried again. She also realized that other babies were saying the same “words” and set out to test her language theory on more than 1000 infants around the world.

[edit] How to Listen

Ms. Dunstan claims there are five words that all babies 0–3 months old say regardless of race and culture and that those words are actually sound reflexes and words are created when sound is added to a baby's reflexes. Ms. Dunstan also cautions that If parents do not respond to those reflexes, babies will eventually stop using them.

According to Dunstan, it's easiest to recognize the words if you listen during what Dunstan calls the "pre-cry" stage, before your baby is hysterical. If you hear more than one word, act on the word you hear most. You may need to shift your baby's position (sit her up on your lap, for example) and try to listen for the distinctive part of each word. Dunstan says there is no one sound that's harder to hear than others because it varies by individual and some babies use some words more than others.

[edit] The Language

I’m Hungry: “Neh”

This is the noise made when a baby pushes his tongue to the roof of his mouth because he wants to eat. "Neh," is an infant's sucking reflex with sound added to it.

I want to burp : “Eh”

When a bubble of air is caught in your baby's chest, the sound the baby makes as he tries to push the air out is "eh”. Burp your baby if they make this type of cry.

I'm tired: “Owh”

”Owh” is an audible yawn. When making this sound, the baby's mouth forms an oval shape.

I'm having discomfort: “Heh”

This is the noise made when a baby is responding to a skin reflex. It signals irritation such as sweating, a wet diaper or itchy clothing.

I have gas: “Eaire”

If a baby can’t push out his burp, it moves through the baby's digestive system and "eaire" is the sound he makes as the muscles of the intestine and stomach tighten to force the air bubble out.