baby – Baby KERF

Our baby has not even come into the world yet, but we are already obsessively proud parents.

You know – those parents who are like “Baby just raised his arm! He’s so cute!” “Baby just burped! So cute!” I’m not being mean – babies are super duper cute doing everything they do! And our child is no exception:

He moves from one side of my stomach to another – he’s saying hi!

He kicks violently – he’s mad!

My stomach growls – he’s hungry!

A foot pokes out – he wants to play!

No movement – he’s taking a nap!

Sudden movement – he’s up from his nap to play!

He talks to us in a cute voice: Matt pokes him and he says “Stop it Daddy!” or it’s beyond dinnertime and he squeals “I’mmmm hungry!!!”).

From the outside, Matt and I have given him so much personality. We are already doing crazy parent things : ) I imagine it will only get worse when he’s here. But really, would you expect any less from a family who brings Bears to life?! (FYI, the Bears and the Baby have the same voice…)

Here’s a video clip – the best I’ve gotten so far because he does his best playing at nighttime when it’s too dark to film – of some afternoon playtime. A hard bone is right under my fingers!

[Of course he’s probably thinking “Stop poking me!!!” but I assume he’s playing back : ) ]

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To Due List

What To Reject When You’re Expecting

Lumpy + Bumpy

The Princess And The Pillows

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Have you heard of the Dunstan Baby Language?

I first learned about it on an episode of Oprah I watched years ago. Priscilla Dunstan has a photographic sound memory. When she had her son, she could pick out patterns in his cries and figured out that they were connected to his needs. She has since researched the “language” on over 1,000 babies from around the world. Watch the Oprah video here to see it all in action!

The foundation of the language is that there are 5 basic baby cries (or pre-cry sounds) that are based on reflexes for baby’s basic needs. These sounds are universal to all babies, although some might express them more clearly than others.

Neh = sucking reflex = I’m hungry

Owh = yawn reflex = I’m sleepy

Heh = skin reflex = I’m uncomfortable

Eh = burp reflex = Burp me

Eairh = poot reflex = I have lower gas

When you watch the videos and hear her experience, it makes perfect sense! I have to say though that when I hear regular babies crying, I am horrible at getting it right!

There was a Pregtastic episode on the topic and one of the moms recorded her son’s cries throughout the day. It turns out nearly all of them were “eh” = gas and I had guessed all 5 reflexes wrong before guessing “eh”! I kept hearing “neh.”

Critics have said this has not been scientifically tested, but when you watch Priscilla in action, it sure seems accurate. And I think the reflex theory makes great sense.

There’s a whole DVD set you can buy to practice and learn how to study your baby. Might be helpful if you’re really into it, but I think the online videos and samples are good enough to understand the language. But maybe I really do need more practice!

I feel that like elimination communication, you don’t have to sit and monitor every single cry to put this into practice. I have heard a lot of moms say that they just know what their baby needs. But I think this could be helpful as just another trick to be aware of in times when you might be having trouble figuring it all out.

Have any of you used the Dunstan language on your babies?