ABSTRACT
From birth tiny babies communicate with their primary caregivers, whether parents, grandparents, nannies or other guardians. In waking moments they seek out a familiar human face for stimulation, comfort and security. From the very beginning of babies' lives, it is important that primary caregivers sing songs and lullabies and rock in time with the rhythms. Between four and six weeks, a baby begins to smile deliberately, having already learned that this attracts or maintains attention and brings the reward of satisfying and pleasurable interactions with familiar adults or older siblings. Small babies use crying as a main form of communication. A confident adult or older child may soothe a baby with their presence, by holding, rocking or stroking or by speaking or singing. Before the age of five or six months, most babies are fairly happy to be soothed and distracted by any appropriate and available caring adult and seek to gain the attention of those around them.
