Most Common Baby Moods

Your baby's mood, temperament and personality evolve continuously throughout her first year. Each developmental stage brings with it its own set of hurdles. You can ease your own stress during each stage by understanding your baby's moods, being responsive to your baby's needs and working to understand her better. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the trust established by your responding to your infant also helps regulate your baby's stress and frustration. Remember that your baby is learning how to communicate her needs with you just as you are learning how to meet them.

  1. Birth to 3 Months

    • Your baby will spend most of his time watching and listening to you during his first few months. From the time your baby is born until he's around 3 months old, his mood will be fairly passive. During this time he is most focused on getting fed, sleeping and receiving affection from you. He will begin expressing his needs in various ways and learning what you respond to best. This is a time when you and your baby are learning about each other. Your baby will quickly learn that your attention makes him feel happy, and he will begin expressing that with social smiles. Use this time to bond with your baby and study his moods to meet his needs more effectively.

    4 to 7 Months Old

    • As your baby becomes more independent and mobile, her personality will begin to change. Where once she had a laid-back temperament, she may now be more stubborn and demanding. At this age, babies tend to be more assertive and attentive. You may also see the beginnings of her personality. Is she an always happy, optimistic baby? Is she sensitive to the world and to the people around her? Her personality will help define her general mood, and it is based on her genetic makeup and temperament. Make sure to approach your pediatrician if you ever have any concerns about her mood, or emotional development.

    8 to 12 Months Old

    • As your baby approaches his first birthday, you may begin to see his mood swing dramatically from open and outgoing to anxious and easily frightened by new surroundings and people. Even familiar people may become a source of anxiety and fear for your child. Separation anxiety may also rear its ugly head, although it usually peaks between 10 and 18 months. During this time it is important to continue to be loving and gentle. As your child becomes more self-aware and independent, you become the constant in his life, increasing his anxieties when you are not there. Encourage his independence by continuously reaffirming his trust in you. Practice leaving your baby in a baby-proofed room, telling him you'll be right back, and then coming back into the room after a minute or so. This helps your baby realize that nothing bad happens when you leave and that you always return.

    Premature Babies

    • Babies born prematurely are special cases when it comes to their everyday moods, and their temperament as they develop. They often do not express their needs as clearly as babies who were delivered at full gestation, so it can be more difficult for parents to anticipate and meet their needs. Premature babies may be more sensitive to light, sound and touch, so parents should try to avoid over-stimulation. Premature babies born weighing less than 5.5 lbs may also be less responsive overall. A premature baby may outgrow this general moodiness, or it may last until the baby is older and more mature. Parents should remember to be gentle and responsive to their baby's need for both attention and quiet.

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