• Responding and understanding your baby's cues is beneficial to both you and your baby as it helps bond development and decreases your baby's stress level. Cues can come in various forms such as motor movements, physical, or medical changes, and facial expressions. It is important to also discuss the different types of cues with your health care provider because babies in the NICU communicate differently.

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• Your baby might communicate the need for attention by putting their hand on their ear or near mouth, grabbing a person's finger or object, and being awake and alert.

• A possible indication that your baby might need a break is if your baby's skin is pale, if they arch their back, or if they stretch out their arms and spread their fingers wide apart. When your baby needs a break, you can talk softly to them, hold them, swaddle them ( not too tightly) , or put a rolled blanket near their feet to press against. 

• Cues such as motor movements and facial expressions can help indicate how your baby is feeling. For example, a stop hand may mean your baby is stressed, while sucking on their hand can mean your baby is content.  

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