Learn to decode your baby’s cries
Did you ever hear about the old Oprah episode where the woman proves she can decode baby’s true language? The episode was called The Secret Language of Babies. It was pretty crazy cool and I wished I’d studied baby talk (AKA baby’s cries) before my first baby was born.
But lucky me, I just kept having babies and by Colicky Baby Number Three, I was able to order the materials and test them out! I joke now, but I ordered the DVD in a moment of real despair.
According to Oprah.com, after testing her baby language theory on more than 1,000 infants around the world, Priscilla Dunstan discovered five words that all babies 0–3 months old say—regardless of race and culture:
- Neh=”I’m hungry”
- Owh=”I’m sleepy”
- Heh=”I’m experiencing discomfort”
- Eair=”I have lower gas”
- Eh=”I need to burp”
Hey, at least it’s only five words, right? Check out the video footage here> to start your research. For a pretty typical non-colicky baby, that’ll probably do.
My super fussy baby at 6 weeks
I purchased the Dunstan DVD in a fit of hopelessness using One Click during a particularly rough 2am session. I wish it were available for instant streaming, I’d have done that and received relief sooner. Anyway, it only takes less than 20 minutes to watch and learn the material. I especially liked that my two older sons could also become fluent in baby cries; they instantly became detectives trying to decode every noise rather than complaining about the many hours of wailing we all had to endure. For us, I declare: Totally Worth It.
You can buy the Baby Language DVD series from Amazon: Dunstan Baby Language
I’ve heard about it someplace else. I’ll have to wait and try it on my next baby, as my youngest is too old for this, but it’s really interesting in terms of what it implies about baby brain and cognitive development.
I saw the baby talk show on Oprah… We are having our 1st grandchild and would love to purchase a DVD, tape, book or something for my daughter-in-law…. son, and new baby…. thank you. glenda
hmmm… it has been a while since you posted this, but i thought i would toss in my two cents anyway. my mother saw the bit on oprah and bought us the dvds. for the first couple of weeks after my boy was born, we listened for the sounds and heard none of the words. but the whole concept helped us listen closer to his noises and identify the differences. now he is two months old and he really sounds just like the babies on her videos. all the words are the same. wacky stuff, but i would actually recommend these to new moms. hopefully they’ll be able to find them used though because $50 is way too much for the 20 minute dvds.
I just tried this on a co-worker of mine’s baby girl (about 1 month old) and it worked! I was so surprised and amazed because I just watched this show last night!! I googled all the baby words and gave it to her to help her! I hope it works!!
Hi, I just happened by your website. The lady who developed that “Baby Talk” concept is Australian (where I’m from). She’s been exposed as a fraud and a charlatan. So, don’t bother.
It’s all really interesting, but it is known as pareidolia which is a well established illusion where the brain can trick us into seeing, or hearing in this case, patterns where there are none.
BULL! I watched that episode when my child was one month old. Ava said “NEH” and “EH” and it worked like a charm. Ava is now 19 months old and even still sometimes she will wake up and scream “NEH”. Even if you don’t believe it is all about listening to your baby and understanding their needs.
Listen i got to hand it to ya. i have twin boys. and this helped me.. just right now. my youngest wouldnt sleep he kept crying.. not a pain cry just a “ahh and ehhh” sound. and i remembered watching this when i was still pregnant. thank you.. lol i love it. it really helps.. i just might save this site to my favorites. 🙂
9:29 pm 06/24/2009
This worked on our first born two years ago. I was suspect of it at first when my wife showed me the oprah episode. Being the suspicious one I tested it over an over again–BUT IT WORKED. And I could hear the words from other babies too.
We just had no.2 and we’re going to try again. Maybe it will work, maybe it won’t. But I’m willing to try.
I can vouch that this works. My daughters first word was ‘neh-neh’ – which meant she wanted to nurse – she was around 3 months old she STILL says this! A woman on my baby support boards said her son also calls nursing ‘neh-neh’
This show on Oprah was incredible. I can communicate with my baby. I had my first daughter in 2006 and I just had my second on sept 18 2011. This is amazing !! You can understand their needs!
Now I understand why my youngest called me neh-neh when he was little!
I love, love, love that I know this! It was super useful for my first, and now, with my second child, I’m trying to remember more than just the hunger sound.