Here are the five "words" that Pricilla Dunstan says can be found in the cries of all newborn babies:
• Neh
"I'm hungry" The "N" sound comes from the suckling reflex. The baby is putting their tongue to the top of their mouth, like they do when they suckle.
• Owh
"I'm sleepy". This reflex sound is tied to the yawn reflex.
• Heh
"I'm uncomfortable". This is the cry a baby makes when they are too warm, too cold, need their diaper changed, or are otherwise "in distress".
• Eair
"I have lower gas." This sound is a deeper cry than others – often sounding like a grunt – and is sometimes accompanied by a drawing up of the legs. This cry means the baby probably needs to have a bowel movement, or has intestinal gas.
• Eh
"I need to burp." This is a reflex sound that a baby makes when it it trying to push air out of its stomach.
