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How do you know that your baby is emotionally responding with you?
You will easily know that your baby is connecting and responding with your
efforts to calm and comfort her if she resonates with the emotion you show
her with an emotional reaction of her own. Usually she mirrors back your
smile, grin, or facial expression. For example, if you give her a big smile,
she will respond with delight in her face. If you wrinkle your brow, she
might imitate you and she will look worried similarly. If you make an “ah,
ah” utterance, she will do the same.
Once you notice that she is imitating you, repeat the action that you just
made and she will copy you and both of you can have a duet of happy
exchanges of noises or facial expression.
Another sign that your baby is responding to you positively is the obvious
joy or delight she takes in your presence or appearance. When you woke up in
the morning, her sunny smiles and big grin upon seeing you is a strong
indication that she is positively connecting with you emotionally. This is a
good start and sign of a lasting relationship and attachment.
Around four or five months old, you will know that she is positively
responding to your interactions if:
She is responding to your smile and facial expression with a smile of her own.
She starts interactions with loving glances and smiles.
She is relaxed or calm when you hold her or rock her.
She looks at your face with great interest.
She anticipates with excitement the appearance of your face or voice.
She looks sad when you withdraw at the middle of a play with her.
She recovers from distress within 15 minutes with or without your help.
Leo Leonidas, MD, FAAP Bangor, Maine
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