Key points
- Baby cues can tell you how your baby is feeling and what they need.
- You can look for baby hunger cues, tired cues, and cues that tell you that your baby wants to play or needs a break.
- Watch the videos below to see baby cues in action.
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Child Development
What are baby cues?
Baby cues are signs of how your baby is feeling and what they need from you. You get these signs from your baby’s body language.
Your baby’s cues give you important information about whether your baby is:
- tired
- hungry
- wide awake and ready to play
- needing a break
- unwell.
Why it’s important to respond to baby cues
When you notice your baby’s cues and respond to them, your baby feels safe and secure. This helps you to build a strong relationship with your baby. And a strong relationship with you and other main caregivers is vital to your baby’s development.
How to recognise baby cues
All babies give cues to how they’re feeling and what they need from you. But each baby develops their own mix of signs to tell you how they’re feeling and what they want.
And as you and your baby get to know each other, you’ll begin to recognise their cues and figure out the best way to respond to your baby’s cues. For example, your grizzling baby might look relaxed when you smile at them, or they might seem to like it better when you sing and talk to them.
Understanding your baby’s cues can take practice, and there’ll be times when you don’t know what your baby wants. At those times, it’s good to remember that warm and gentle responses from you help your baby feel safe. Your responses also build your relationship with your baby.
Watch the video to learn more about baby cues.
Video: Baby cues: introduction
Get baby & toddler cues in picturesIf your baby is unwell, they might cry, seem listless or pale, or have a fever, rash or other signs.
Baby tired cues
Baby tired cues include:
- staring into the distance
- jerky movements
- yawning
- fussing
- sucking fingers
- losing interest in people or toys.
Watch the video to see what these cues look like in real babies.
Video: Baby cues: tired
Read more about baby tired signsWhen you recognise tired signs in your baby, it’s a good idea to start settling your baby for sleep.
Baby hunger cues
When your baby is hungry, they might:
- make sucking noises
- turn towards the breast.
Watch the video to see what hunger cues look like in real babies.
Video: Baby cues: hungry
Explore breastfeeding & bottle-feedingBaby cues that say ‘I want to play’
Cues that your baby is ready to play with you include:
- eyes wide and bright
- eye contact with you
- smiles
- smooth movements
- hands reaching out to you.
Watch the video to see these baby cues in action, plus more signs that your baby is ready to play.
Video: Baby cues: play
Read why play is important for developmentWhen you recognise ‘ready to play’ signs in your baby, it’s a good time to smile and talk to your baby. Baby play is simple – it’s all about the interactions between you and your baby.
Baby cues that say ‘I need a break’
Babies who are 4 months and older might not always be ready for a nap after their play time. Sometimes they might want a change of pace or activity instead. So what do these baby cues look like?
If your baby wants a break from what they’re doing right now, they might:
- turn their head away from you
- squirm or kick.
Watch the video to see these baby cues in action, plus more signs that your baby wants a change of activity.
Video: Baby cues: break
Read about overstimulation in babiesWhen you recognise ‘ready for a break’ signs in your baby, it’s a good idea to give your baby some quiet time or a different activity. For example, if your baby turns their head away from the rattle you’re showing them, you could lie your baby on their back to look at a mobile for a while.
