2023-07-30

Interpreting baby noises

I recently stumbled across this interesting video from Oprah back in the day. Basically, the guest asserts that babies make a few regular sounds with reliable interpretations. Here's the screenshot-able-for-2-am list:

• Neh: hungry

• Owh: sleepy

• Heh: discomfort

• Eeair: low gas

• Eh: needs to burp

Definitely watch the video to see examples of real babies making each sound, and rationale for each noise. 

In my firstborn, the hunger cue I hoped would be "neh" was more like "eeyoh" in practice. Because the rationale for the hunger cue is a proto-sucking motion, this noise also makes sense to me. If you make the "ee-yoh" noise very slowly, you'll find that "ee" requires your tongue on the roof of your mouth, behind your teeth; and the subsequent "yoh" lowers your tongue down and drops your jaw, causing your mouth create a larger cavity. Indeed, this is reminiscent of sucking mechanics.

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