Priscilla Dunstan - Calm the Crying: The Secret Baby Language That Reveals the Hidden Meaning Behind an Infants Cry

what parents are saying about the dunstan baby language

Thank you for the opportunity to learn something new about my child. It was a great help and has brought me more insight into the fact that babies arent just crying... they have something to say.

Im glad I was able to use this method with my second child. I only wish Id known about it for my first. It would have made caring for her a lot easier.

This system is just amazing! My husband still says, He is saying neh! Hes hungry! He is so excited because he can understand our son now! I am, too!!

My partner and I love Dunstans method. Our relationship is better and our baby is happier.

My son was pretty relaxed, but knowing the system helped me feel so confident. I think he is such a good baby and happy be-cause of it.

I would strongly recommend this system to every parent. It makes you feel that you know what you are doing and that you have some control over this little life that you have created.

Dunstans method is highly effective and easy to learn. Its well worth the time to help you understand what your baby needs and wants. It makes everyones life more contented and has had a positive effect on the whole family.

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Copyright 2012 by Priscilla Dunstan

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Dunstan, Priscilla.

Calm the crying : the secret baby language that reveals the hidden meaning behind an infants cry / Priscilla Dunstan.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-101-59793-4

1. Crying in infants. 2. Nonverbal communication in infants. 3. InfantsCare. I. Title.

BF720.C78D86 2012 2012024964

649'.122dc23

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers, Internet addresses, and other contact information at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors, or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Imagine having been heard and understood your whole life, even from your first breath and sound.

PRISCILLA DUNSTAN

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

W HEN I FIRST MET Priscilla Dunstan in 2009, I was initially a bit skeptical of this young Australian mother who believed she could understand a babys cries. However, I soon found her philosophy to be similar to mine. We both believe that education and support for new parents heavily influences the quality of parenting. Priscilla had devoted her career to translating and decoding infant cries in order to allow parents to better understand their needs. Her success was undeniableshed even converted Oprah! I was intrigued.

In my 20 years of practicing pediatrics in New York City, I have come to believe that a critical component of successful bonding between mother and newborn is the support that mother receives from her partner, family, and physician. This emphasis on support for the mother forms part of the founding philosophy of Tribeca Pediatrics and Tribeca Parenting, which support parents through quality pediatric medical care as well as educational support through classes in topics such as breastfeeding, baby massage, and CPR.

Priscilla shares our commitment to supporting new mothers in their journey to bond with their newborns. A lifetime of researching, listening to, translating, and decoding infants cries resulted in the Dunstan Baby Language, which helps mothers and fathers connect with their baby through better understanding their babys sounds and thus better meeting his or her needs. Priscillas work reinforces the bond between parent and child, much as I do in my practice, and I commend her dedication.

Maternal stress and insecurity can often exacerbate such issues such as breastfeeding, colic, sleep, and general well-being. The techniques that Priscilla offers will help a mother feel more confident that she is meeting her infants needs, easing the stress of caring for a newborn. Priscillas techniques work for fathers too, providing a tangible means of connection thats sometimes hard to attain at this early stage when so many of a newborns needs can seemingly only be satisfied by Mom.

Calm the Crying is a very practical how to manual. The Dunstan Baby Language is presented in a very straightforward manner, and will be an accessible tool for new moms and dads. I believe this book will be especially valuable for first-time parents and those unsure of how to care for their infant.

Enjoy Calm the Cryingand best wishes on your journey with your newborn. This is an experience like none other, and I wish you and your baby good luck in finding your path together.

Dr. Michel Cohen

New York City, June 2012

Tribeca Pediatrics

PREFACE

the secret language of babies

W OULDNT IT BE WONDERFUL if you could understand exactly what your crying baby was trying to tell you? Calm the Crying is about just that: how to quickly comprehend and calm your babys crying. Youll learn how to know what your baby needsand whensimply by listening to her cries.

Healthy human babies have a universal secret baby language based on physical reflexes that all infants share, regardless of nationality or ethnicity. This book uses the Dunstan Classification of Infant Cries to teach you how to listen to your baby from birth and understand the underlying issue thats causing your baby to cry. Through simple explanations that tie specific sounds in crying to phonetic words, Ill show you how to interpret your babys cries as easily as if he were speaking your own language. Your baby will literally tell you if she is hungry, tired, needs to burp, feels cold, or has gas. Your baby can even communicate that hes feeling overwhelmed or that his gums are hurting from teething. You will