Puckered lips, tongue hanging out, hands pressed to chin = Hungry
This is a face you’ll become very familiar with in Baby’s first weeks. There is a longing, expectant look in Baby’s eyes that tells you it’s just about time to feed. If you’re on-demand formula feeding, that look is your indication that it’s time to start making a bottle.
Wide fish-mouth, lips tense, eyes open = Good feeding latch
A baby with a good latch will have a really wide mouth – not just gently suck the tip of your nipple. A breastfed baby should have a lot of breast tissue in their mouth. A bottle fed baby is still likely to have a more comfortable experience when they can perform this natural feeding posture, especially if you are transitioning from breast to bottle.
Take a look at the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature® Bottle for a good example of what a naturally shaped bottle should look like. It has a breast-like, flexible nipple that extends as baby sucks, just like with a real breast. The Closer to Nature® Bottle also has a system that vents excess air during feeding, which makes feeding smoother and reduces colic symptoms.
Closed eyes, soft features = Sleep
This is probably the most self-explanatory facial expression to recognize, but it’s still worth mentioning. You’ll learn to tell whether Baby is in a deep or light sleep. Interrupting deep sleep can result in a fussy baby.
Eyes darting, mouth agape, squealing or pointing = Alert
An alert face lets you know that Baby is ready for learning. Help Baby experience whatever they are interested in. For instance, you can splash the water in the tub or rip up a paper bag then crumple it to show how the shape can change.
The whole world is new to Baby — when Baby has an alert face it’s time to explore.
On the verge of tears, a frown, furrowed brow = Distressed
You might find that baby goes from smiling, to being on the verge of tears, then back to laughing again. It’s a big world out there, and Baby’s brain is still learning to process it all. Sometimes Baby gets overstimulated.
If this happens, think about what you can do to reduce the stimulation on Baby’s senses. Darkness, quiet, and gentle repetitive motions can all help calm Baby down.
Red face, hands in a ball, eyes squinting = Fussy
Yup, you’ve got a fussy baby on your hands. It’s all in the eyes — a Baby who cries with eyes wide might just be experiencing some confusion, while a baby with closed eyes is likely having a bit of a tantrum.
Remember that Baby isn’t angry with you. After all, Baby can’t process what anger is yet. It’s likely that Baby is just uncomfortable, so consider trying to eliminate the most common baby stressors: stimulation, moisture or irritation from a diaper, gas, hunger, or interrupted sleep.
Another major cause of discomfort for baby is colic, which has been linked to ingesting air during feeding. Keep baby happy and comfortable with a bottle designed to minimize the air Baby ingests during a feeding, like The Closer to Nature® Added Comfort Bottle from Tommee Tippee. Tap the button below to take a look.
This ad is brought to you by Tommee Tippee
