The First Negative Emotion Exhibited in Infancy

Your baby has not yet developed a full repertoire of emotions at birth. Various emotions emerge quickly as your baby experiences physical states and reacts to his surroundings. Both negative and positive emotions are important for your baby's healthy development and for him to communicate with you as best as he can.

  1. First Emotions

    • At birth your baby will quickly experience simple emotional states such as distress, contentment and interest, according to Veola Vasquez writing on the website of the global Christian group, Focus on the Family. Distress is a baby's first negative emotion and also likely his first emotion as he comes out of the womb. Your baby will express this emotion by crying and screaming in response to being uncomfortable, cold or hungry. Once he is fed and settled, you may see emotions of contentment and even interest as he gazes at your face.

    Emotions and Health

    • Your baby's cries of distress and even anger with being disturbed from his cozy cocoon in the womb may seem alarming, but they are a sign of good health. Writing for the Hospital for Sick Children, psychologist Dr. Joanne Cummings notes that this negative emotion shows that your baby is in a state of alertness. Being aware of his surroundings as he gets used to his environment is an indicator of healthy mental, emotional and physical development. Crying is a newborn's only form of communication and it is important for him to communicate any way he can. Other states of alertness include quiet when your baby is content and attentive as he listens to your voice, gazes at your face or takes in his surroundings.

    Emotional Expressivity

    • Along with crying in distress, your baby will also show a range of facial expressions and other body language that help you understand how he is feeling. Signs of emotional distress in a baby include closing his eyes, scrunching up his face, balling his fists and curling his legs in toward his abdomen or kicking them out. An article published in the "Psychology Encyclopedia," based on the work of child development specialist Dr. David Elkind, notes that a newborn's limited emotions can only be understood by your own interpretation of what these expressions mean.

    Bonding

    • Your newborn's negative emotions help him to communicate to you, as his caregiver. How you respond to his emotions are important in bonding and your baby's emotional development. According to Vasquez, responding quickly and more often to your baby's cries and interacting with him helps to build a strong bond. Responding positively to his negative emotions by changing, feeding, cuddling or soothing him also helps to enhance his emotional development.

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