Long before babies can tell us how they feel, they have plenty of ways of showing us. Crying, smiling, making sounds, turning towards a familiar voice or becoming unsettled when a parent leaves are all part of their developing emotional world.
During the first two years, the way your baby experiences, recognises and expresses emotions changes considerably. Some changes happen surprisingly early, while more complex feelings and the ability to manage them take much longer to develop.
How do newborn babies show their feelings?
In the early weeks, your baby's emotional communication is relatively simple. They might cry when they are hungry, tired or uncomfortable and appear relaxed when they feel safe and content.
They are also beginning to take in an enormous amount of information about the people around them.
Familiar voices, faces and touch can all be reassuring. Babies also pay attention to changes in facial expression and tone of voice, even though they don't yet understand emotions in the way an older child does.
Responding to your baby's cues, holding them and speaking calmly to them helps provide the security and reassurance they need during these early months.
That first smile: when does it happen?
Those little newborn smiles are lovely to see, but many of the earliest ones are reflexive rather than a response to you.
At around 6 to 8 weeks, many babies begin to develop a social smile. This means they may smile back when you smile at them or respond with a smile when you talk or interact with them.
Over the following months, their expressions become much more varied. You may hear the first giggles, see excitement when someone familiar appears and begin to recognise different sounds and expressions depending on how your baby is feeling.
Of course, there's no exact date when this should happen. Babies develop at their own pace.
When do babies understand other people's emotions?
Understanding emotions is something that develops gradually.
During the first few months, babies become increasingly interested in faces and voices. As they grow, they get better at noticing emotional cues such as whether you are smiling, speaking reassuringly or sounding concerned.
By watching and interacting with you, your baby is beginning to learn about emotions long before they have the words to describe them.
This is one reason everyday interactions are so important. Talking, smiling, singing, playing and comforting your baby all give them opportunities to experience social and emotional communication.
Why has my baby suddenly become wary of strangers?
A baby who once happily went to anyone may suddenly decide that unfamiliar people are definitely not for them!
Becoming wary of strangers is common during the second half of the first year. Often known as stranger anxiety, it happens as babies become better at recognising the difference between the people they know and those they don't.
You may also notice separation anxiety during this stage. Your baby might cry when you leave the room, cling to you in unfamiliar situations or become upset when someone else holds them.
These behaviours can be challenging, but they are a normal stage of emotional development for many babies.
Babies need help with big feelings
Babies aren't born knowing how to calm themselves when they feel overwhelmed.
Throughout their first year, they rely heavily on parents and other caregivers to provide comfort and reassurance. Picking your baby up, speaking calmly or staying close when they're distressed helps them feel secure.
Over time, and with plenty of support, children gradually develop their own ability to cope with difficult feelings. Emotional regulation is a skill that continues developing well beyond the baby years.
What changes when your baby becomes a toddler?
The toddler years bring a much bigger and more complicated range of emotions.
Your child is developing their own personality, becoming more independent and beginning to understand themselves as an individual. More complex emotions such as pride, jealousy and embarrassment may start to appear.
At the same time, toddlers still have limited ability to manage these feelings.
That combination can result in some very big reactions to seemingly very small problems. The wrong cup, a broken banana or having to leave the playground can suddenly feel like a complete disaster.
Tantrums aren't simply a toddler being deliberately difficult. Young children are still learning how to understand what they feel, communicate it and calm themselves afterwards.
Helping your child understand their emotions
One of the most useful things you can do as your child grows is help put feelings into words.
Simple phrases such as "You're sad because Daddy left" or "You're cross because it's time to stop playing" can help toddlers begin connecting the feeling they're experiencing with the word used to describe it.
You can also support healthy emotional development through everyday things such as:
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Offering comfort when your baby is distressed
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Talking and interacting with them throughout the day
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Smiling and making eye contact
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Keeping familiar routines
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Naming feelings as your child gets older
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Staying calm during tantrums
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Setting clear and consistent boundaries
Children don't learn to manage emotions overnight. It happens gradually through repeated experiences and support from the adults around them.
There's no single emotional development timeline
Milestones such as first smiles and separation anxiety can give parents an idea of what to expect, but they shouldn't be treated as deadlines.
One baby may happily smile at everyone they meet, while another takes much longer to warm up. Some toddlers express every emotion very loudly, while others are naturally more reserved.
Temperament plays a part, and development varies considerably from one child to another.
If you're concerned about any aspect of your baby's or toddler's development, your public health nurse or GP can offer advice based on your individual child.
FAQs about babies and emotions
Do newborn babies have emotions?
Newborns experience and communicate basic states such as comfort and distress from birth. Their emotional responses and ability to communicate different feelings become increasingly sophisticated as they develop.
At what age do babies smile socially?
Many babies begin social smiling at around 6 to 8 weeks. This is different from the reflexive smiles that can occur during the newborn stage.
Can babies sense when you're upset?
Babies can respond to changes in facial expression, voice and behaviour from an early age. Their ability to recognise and understand the emotions of other people develops gradually as they grow.
When does separation anxiety begin?
Separation anxiety often appears during the second half of the first year, although the timing and intensity vary considerably between babies.
Are tantrums part of emotional development?
Yes. Toddlers can experience intense emotions before they have developed the language and self-regulation skills needed to manage them. Tantrums are therefore common during the toddler years.
