What to try
- When your baby comes to give you a kiss or holds their arms out for a hug, respond with a smile, hug or kiss.
- If you can’t respond straight away, or just need a break from hugs, tell your baby this in a very simple way.
- Notice how your baby shows affection and respond in similar ways – they might like hugs and kisses, or prefer showing you toys or playing together.
Good to know
This is another way of engaging in ‘serve and return’ interactions with your baby, where you take turns responding to each other just like you would in a conversation. This supports their development in many ways.