Before starting your class and throughout the session it is important to read your baby. The parent/carer sometimes gets so caught up with the actions and feel they have to participate in the whole of the session, they forget to read the signs and
signals of the baby.

Happy Cues: Smiling , Cooing, Following you with their eyes , Gently moving arms, legs and body, Bright eyes , Alert , Reaching out to you, Looking intently at you

Unhappy Cues: Crying, Anxious, Pulling ears, Yawning, Discontented face, rubbing eyes, Coughing, Frowning, Arching their back, Pushing you away, Kicking

Either happy or unhappy cues will tell his parent/carer what he wants and a response is required fairly quickly otherwise a
happy cue could turn into an unhappy cue; or an unhappy cue can turn into an inconsolable baby.

Recognising babies cries
A baby will cry for a number of reasons and when a parent/carer gets to know their baby they will be able to recognise the different cries and what they mean.

 Pain – A loud, intense, short cry.
 Hunger/Thirst – Continuous cry which stops when offered food.
 Tired – Irritable, rubbing eyes, pulling ears.
 Bored – Stop, start and frustrated crying.
 Distressed – Loud, high pitched cry and distressed body movements.
 Over stimulation – Loud cry

If a baby is crying and the parent/carer is still trying to do yoga or maybe a new parent who is not yet familiar with the baby’s cues, it may be necessary to give suggestions, but never direct your suggestions at anyone in particular. You could suggest that the babies get thirsty when exercising and may need a drink, or you could tell them that like an adult doing exercise it makes us hungry and has the same effect on the baby so they may need an earlier feed.  Relaxed holds and walks can also help to calm a baby, or dips and swings to stimulate the baby so if you have one or two babies that are unhappy then it may be an idea to suggest one of these for your group.  As a teacher there are moments to support a parent in these situations, showing the walks or using a demonstration can help.