Baby Emotions
Author: Jill D. Chasse

Look at a baby for several moments. In that time, that baby may smile, wrinkle her nose, cry, yawn, twist up his face or share a new expression. These expressions in visible or psychological changes are in a response to the world around the baby. The reactions expressed are called emotions. Emotions that are visible can teach parents and practitioners a lot about an infant before speech is mastered.

Years ago, the smiling on a baby’s face was referred to a “gas.” After years of study and research, we can finally accept an infant’s smile as joy or satisfaction. Babies will express fear, anger, pain, and sorrow as well, although adults may not be able to determine which emotion is connected to which expression emotions. The environment along with all its stimuli is so brand new to a baby who is fresh in the outside world beyond the womb that his or her expressions are being developed and changed moment by moment. The child him/herself may not even know what facial expression is coming when he/she reacts to a sound, scent, touch, taste, or sight. Learning about these emotions is an adventure for both parents and baby.

A new parent is usually entranced by his or her offspring. Parents quickly learn the “happy cry” vs. the “hungry cry.” Paying close attention to baby’s reactions will help both the child and the parents learn more about emotions being expressed and connect an activity and/or response to that expression or outburst.

Emotions are a form of communication. The attention that a parent pays to his or her child increases the security that child feels and leads to the development of trust, self, and independence. Acording to Erikson, learning trust sets the infant’s outlook as to a negative or positive view of the world. When infants receive negative or minimal responses to his/her attempts of communication, the trust element fails and sets the child of doubt and suspicion. A lack of positive emotional interaction also minimizes an infant’s independence. This could have severe consequences as the child grows, reflecting in the development of mental and motor abilities as well as a lack of identity understanding and self doubt.


References:

Chamberlain, D. Early and Very Early Parenting in Life Before Birth [Online].
(2003) http://www.birthpsychology.com/lifebefore/early9.html (2004,
January 12).


Preisser, et al (1997). Emotional and Personality Development in Infants in the
Developmental Psychology Student Newsletter [Online]. Available :
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d46/psy/dev/Spring01/Emotion/index.
html (2004, January 27).


Hetherington, E. M. Parke, R.D. and Locke, V. O. (2003).Child Psychology: A
Contemporary Viewpoint. (5th ed). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.






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Jill D. Chasse has been working in the maternal/child health field for over 13 years. She has worked in labor and delivery rooms,as well as home environments, attending and assisting with numerous births. She has a degree in Human behavior, a Masters degree in Public Administration and is currently pursuing a PhD in family therapy and perinatal developmental psychology. She is certified by the International Association of Counselors and Therapists of which she is also a member.

Jill D. Chasse teaches healthy infant mental, emotional and cognitive health and development as well as childbirth education and parenting classes. She focuses on infant mental health and pre-birth bonding, where she uses guided meditations and visualizations to help women communicate and empower their babies before birth.

www.jilldiana.homestead.com/pregnancy.html

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