Why Are Babies Comforted by Their Mother's Voices?
Around week 18 or 19 of gestation, a fetus starts to hear sounds around him. The first and most prevalent sounds he will hear are his mother̵7;s voice and the sounds of her body. Once the baby is born, he will associate her voice with comfort, nourishment and security.
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Tone
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According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a baby prefers the high-pitched voices of women to other voices. Often a mother will raise the pitch of her voice, slow her words and exaggerate certain syllables when speaking to her baby. She will also widen her eyes and mouth more when speaking to a baby. All of these actions are comforting to a baby.
Food and Nourishment
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A baby's main focus during the first months is eating and sleeping. When he hears his mother, he knows food is nearby and associates her with nourishment and satiety. This comforting feeling occurs whether the mother breastfeeds or bottle-feeds the baby, although a breastfed baby will tie in his mother̵7;s smell, touch, feeling of her breast, taste of her milk and soothing voice with the pleasurable experience of nursing.
Bonding
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A mother bonds with her baby when she holds her baby close, looks into his eyes and talks or sings to him. Bonding provides the baby with his first intimate relationship and ̶0;fosters a sense of security and positive self-esteem,̶1; according to Kids Health. A baby begins to recognize his mother̵7;s voice, smell, touch and face very early on, which creates a stronger bond between this pair compared to other people.
Security
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After a baby is born, he is thrust into a world he doesn̵7;t know or understand and with a body he hasn̵7;t quite mastered yet. He needs to feel safe in this new place in order to thrive. Hearing his mother's voice close by helps him to feel comforted and know that his needs will be met and that he is in a safe and secure place.
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Here are some similes for baby crying, ranging from gentle to more dramatic:Gentle:* The babys cry was like a soft, mournful melody.* Her cries were as sweet as a birds song, but with a tinge of sadness.* His whimpers were like the rustling of leaves
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While it is normal for newborn babies to cry for two to three hours a day in the first few weeks, some babies are far more demanding than others. A demanding baby may cry for several hours a day for months, and want to be held constantly and fed more
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Carrying a baby in a sling allows you to have both hands free to tackle household chores, eat your lunch or read a book. Wearing your baby is also good for her health and development, as holding your baby close to your body helps her feel comforted a
