Gurgle translate

Most parents would love to know what their baby is trying to tell them. Author Tanith Carey explains to LISA SALMON how to understand little ones' cries and gestures

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BABIES can be a real mystery to their parents. But just because they can't talk doesn't mean they can't tell you what they want.

The lack of verbal communication in new babies means they have to show their parents what they're thinking by crying in different ways, pointing, using body language, and even sticking their tongue out, according to parenting author Tanith Carey.

She's teamed up with clinical psychologist Dr Angharad Rudkin to write new book, What's My Baby Thinking? to explain research, neuroscience and what's known about baby development to help parents understand what their little ones are trying to tell them up to the age of around two years.

"At first, babies can feel like a mystery," says Tanith. "They seem so helpless that much of parents' time and worry is spent trying to work out what they need.

"But although your baby can't yet talk, that doesn't mean they can't communicate. We've never known more about how babies and toddlers think, experience the world, and express themselves.

"With a bit of insight, it really is possible for your baby to have subtitles - and when you understand what they're trying to tell you, those early years become easier and even more enjoyable."

Here, Tanith explains some of the ways parents can understand what's going on in their baby's head...

BABIES HAVE FIVE TYPES OF CRIES

It can be incredibly stressful for parents when their baby cries and they don't understand why and, certainly at first, a newborn's cries may sound like the same general alarm call. But Tanith explains babies usually cry for five main reasons - hunger, tiredness, overstimulation, discomfort or pain, and boredom or frustration.