FAQ

Do babies really use language?

Babies use sound and gestures to communicate their basic needs.

Priscilla Dunstan was the first to discover that these sounds are not random. Once the sounds themselves were identified, further research revealed that they are actually reflex responses to the 5 basic physical needs that a newborn experiences: hunger, tiredness, wind, gassy and discomfort.

If these needs are not met or are ignored, cries may become louder and babies become more upset. These sounds or ‘words’ form the basis of what we have called the Dunstan Baby Language.

Is the Baby Language difficult to learn?

Not at all, this is not like trying to learn a foreign language. Once you have tuned your ear and are familiar with the sounds your baby makes, you will begin to understand your infant’s cries.

The trick is to learn how to hear the word through your own baby’s particular ‘accent’. This is why the course has dozens upon dozens of video examples of babies making each cry. Through a series of practice exercises, you’ll develop the skills to become an expert baby listener in no time.

The Dunstan Baby Language is simply about knowing what to listen for within your baby’s sounds and cries to determine what they need, so that you are able to respond appropriately.

Will this help my baby sleep better?

When your infant is happy and content you will find they will sleep better.

Settling a tired baby is much easier than a baby who is wide awake or one that has become over tired. By understanding your baby and acting when your baby is ‘saying’ the tired word, you will be able to settle him/her faster and establish a routine more easily.

Will my baby cry during this program?

Crying is the way babies communicate. The trick is to minimise crying by responding quickly to their needs. That’s what stops a cry turning into a scream.

This program aims to minimise crying and make the process as effective and as smooth as possible.

I urge participants in the program to pay particular attention to the steps I give them as this increases the effectiveness of the program which has been designed purposefully.

In my experience, the more parents try to overplay a role and ‘fix’ their baby’s crying and steer away from the guidelines, the worse the crying will be and the messier the settle is. When sticking to the guidelines however, parents are typically noticing significant reduction in crying by day three.

Once babies have finished the program they are happier and more content.

Will my baby make all the sounds everyday?

Remember that your baby is expressing its needs through sound, so you will only hear those ‘words’ of the needs that are to be met. You will therefore find that those ‘words’ that indicate what your baby requires will be the ones that occur more frequently, i.e. if sleeping is an issue then the sleep word will occur more often.

Is the system effective?

This program is super effective. There are so many different elements factored in and we look at everything as a whole, including feeding, sleeping, days, nights, plus what to do during awake periods. 

Are the settling techniques shown the ones I should use?

The settling techniques in the course are some of the more popular ones used. They are included to give you some ideas of what to do once you have recognized your baby’s need.

Always do what you feel is best for your baby. If you are having difficulties or need more help with settling techniques please consult a professional.

What’s different about this program?

There are some key differences when it comes to the Dunstan Baby Language. We are the pioneers of responsive parenting programs, of which there are many imitators.

But being the originators of the field, we know that we have more experience, and have more rigorously tested the techniques both anecdotally, as well as at the academic level.

Is this a ‘cry it out’ or ‘extinction process’?

Far from it.

This is the most loving, responsive and gentle parenting program you can possibly find. Everything we do works to minimise the crying and get on top of making change happen as quickly as possible. There is no extinction method recommended throughout the system.

How consistent do I need to be?

Consistency is the key. The more that you are consistent with this program, the sooner the results will come about.

Inconsistency is confusing for your baby, and it will equate to a harder struggle as you try together with your baby to settle on a comfortable routine that works for both of you.

I’m from a non-English speaking background; will the Baby Language work for my baby?

The Baby Language is a universal system of communication that is based on reflexes. So in the same way a laugh, sneeze or hiccup is a sound shared by us all, the sounds your baby makes are also universal and not dependent on a specific culture, accent or race.

As such it has none of the problems typically associated with learning an adult language. You will soon be understanding your baby no matter what your cultural background.

Can fathers learn it too?

Yes, fathers can learn the Baby Language. Couples that have learnt the System together report a greater sense of esteem in caring for their baby and reduced stress in the family home. The Baby Language can also be learned by grandparents, siblings, and other caregivers. You’ll find that understanding your baby helps strengthen your relationship.

Does the System work with premature babies?

Our research to date has not included preterm babies however, we continually receive feedback from mothers of preterm infants reporting the Dunstan Baby Language to be an enormous benefit with their child.