Understanding Early Communication & Regulation | Babies (birth-18 months)

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Understanding Early Communication & Regulation

Babies (birth-18 months)

Supporting babies’ communication and emotional development from birth to 18 months

Purpose of This Document

This document explains how early communication and emotional regulation develop in babies aged 0–18 months.

It supports practitioners to:

• recognise early forms of communication

• understand regulation as a relational process

• respond sensitively and appropriately

• support inclusion and early identification

This document is not a developmental checklist.
It supports adult understanding, reflection and responsive practice.

Early Communication Begins at Birth

Babies communicate from birth.

Before speech develops, communication happens through:

• crying and vocalisations

• facial expression and eye gaze

• body movement and posture

• gestures and sounds

These early signals are meaningful.

Communication at this stage is:

• intentional

• relational

• shaped by adult response

Babies learn to communicate because adults respond.

Regulation Is Learned Through Relationships

Babies are not born able to regulate their emotions.

Regulation develops through:

• repeated experiences of being soothed

• consistent, responsive caregiving

• predictable routines

• emotionally attuned adults

This process is known as co-regulation.

Through co-regulation, babies gradually:

• feel safe

• recover from distress

• begin to manage emotions with support

Self-regulation develops later and builds on these early experiences.

The Link Between Communication and Regulation

Communication and regulation are closely connected.

When babies:

• cry

• vocalise

• turn away

• reach out

they are communicating a need.

When adults:

• respond promptly

• name emotions

• offer comfort

• adjust the environment

babies learn that:

• communication is effective

• their needs matter

• the world is predictable

This supports both emotional development and communication growth.

What Early Communication and Regulation Look Like

Babies may communicate or regulate by:

• seeking eye contact

• using sounds or movements

• becoming unsettled or withdrawing

• showing excitement or calm

Regulation may look like:

• needing adult support to settle

• calming through physical contact

• relying on familiar routines

• seeking proximity to key people

These behaviours are developmentally appropriate.

The Role of the Adult

Adults support communication and regulation by:

• observing closely

• responding consistently

• slowing down interactions

• using warm, calm language

• offering physical and emotional reassurance

Practitioners:

• interpret behaviour as communication

• avoid labelling babies as “difficult” or “challenging”

• adapt responses to individual needs

The adult response shapes the baby’s experience.

Supporting Communication Through Daily Practice

Communication is supported through:

• narration of care routines

• imitation of sounds and gestures

• shared attention

• turn-taking interactions

• naming emotions and experiences

This happens during:

• feeding

• nappy changing

• settling to sleep

• floor play

• transitions

There is no need for formal language activities.

When Regulation Is Difficult

Some babies may:

• become distressed easily

• struggle to settle

• have intense emotional responses

• show limited self-soothing strategies

This may reflect:

• temperament

• developmental stage

• sensory needs

• changes in routine

• early communication differences

Support focuses on:

• understanding the baby

• adapting care and environment

• strengthening relationships

Not on behaviour management.

Observation and Early Identification

Observation helps practitioners notice:

• how babies communicate needs

• how they respond to comfort

• how they manage transitions

• patterns over time

Concerns are:

• recorded sensitively

• shared with leaders and parents

• responded to through support

Early identification is:

• relational

• preventative

• non-diagnostic

Working in Partnership with Parents

Parents know their babies best.

Partnership includes:

• sharing communication cues

• discussing soothing strategies

• aligning routines where possible

• respecting cultural approaches

Consistency between home and setting supports regulation and communication.

Alignment with EYFS and Development Matters

This approach aligns with:

• the prime areas of learning

• the role of the key person

• Development Matters guidance on communication and PSED

• learning through everyday experiences

The EYFS does not expect:

• formal speech

• independent self-regulation

• assessment against milestones

Our approach reflects this.

In Summary

For babies aged 0–18 months:

• communication begins before words

• regulation is learned through relationships

• behaviour is communication

• adult response matters most

By observing, responding and supporting sensitively, practitioners help babies feel:

• safe

• understood

• confident to communicate

This lays the foundation for later language, social development and emotional wellbeing.

Document Updated: January 2026

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(This pathway component is currently available to read on the web page above and will be available for download by: March 31st 2026)

Recommended next read Selection

Additional Documents | Professional Membership Contents (Babies 0-18 months)

Navigate our Curriculum & Pedagogy guidance documents here.

Pedagogical identity:
Relationship-led, care-centred baby practice where routines, interaction and sensory experience are the curriculum.

• 1. Welcome to the Baby Room (Start Here)

  👉 This section protects developmentally appropriate practice.

  • Baby Pedagogy Position Statement – How Babies Learn (0–18 Months)

  • Care as Curriculum: What This Means in Practice

  • How Our Baby Room Practice Works

  • Curriculum Language in Baby Rooms(Intent, Implementation & Impact Explained)

• 2. Baby Development & Adult Understanding

  👉 These documents support adult understanding — not expectations for babies.

  • Baby Curriculum Maps - Developmental progression across age bands(0–3 months | 3–6 months | 6-9 months | 9-12 months | 12-18 months)

  • Adult Reference: Developmental Signals & Support

  • Understanding Early Communication & Regulation

• 3. Observation-Led Practice & Responsive Care

  👉 Observation informs interaction, routines and environment.

  • In-The-Moment Narrative Observation Template for Babies

  • Micro-Observation Template (Checklist Format)

  • Pocket-Sized Observation Card

  • Using Observation to Respond to Babies’ Needs

  • In-the-Moment Prompt Cards (x17)

• 4. Environment & Continuous Provision (Baby Room)

  👉 The environment supports exploration, movement and communication.

  • Baby Room Environment Guide & Resourcing Lists

  • Baby Room Continuous Provision Maps

    • 0–9 Months

    • 9–18 Months

  • Labelling Pack | Baby Room (0–18 Months)

• 5. Routines, Care & Emotional Wellbeing

  👉 Care routines are central to learning and wellbeing.

  • Daily Routines as Learning Opportunities

  • Transition & Sleep Routine Record Pack

    • Daily Transition Record

    • Individual Sleep Routine Profile

    • Review Template

  • Supporting Emotional Regulation in Baby Rooms

• 6. Language & Interaction in Baby Rooms

  👉 Language is built through interaction, not instruction.

  • Five Sentence Stems Every Baby Room Practitioner Should Use (Baby Room Poster)

  • Responsive Talk, Narration & Imitation

  • Supporting Early Communication (Pre-Verbal & Emerging Speech)

• 7. Planning & Documentation

  👉 Planning supports adults — it never directs babies.

  • Weekly Care & Learning Planning Templates (x2)

  • Using Baby Room Planning Templates Responsively

  • ‘Intent - Implementation - Impact’ Reference Grids(Emotional, Communication, Physical, Sensory, Social, Problem-Solving, Independence)

  • Baby Responsive Planning Sheet

  • When (and When Not) to Plan in Baby Rooms

• 8. Assessment, Safeguarding & Statutory Responsibilities

  👉 Proportionate, sensitive and statutory practice.

  • Concerns & Referrals Quick Form

  • Recording and Responding to Safeguarding Concerns

  • Progress Check at Age 2(looking ahead)

    • Report Template

    • Practitioner Guidance

• 9. SEND & Early Identification

  👉 Early support is relational, preventative and respectful.

  • SEND Identification & Next Steps Pack | Babies

    • What to Look For

    • What Evidence to Collect

    • Practical Next Steps

  • SEND & Inclusion Support Pack

    • A practical Toolkit for Early Years Practitioners

    • Inclusion Through Environment & Interaction

• 10. Parent Partnership & Communication

  👉 Strong partnerships support consistency and trust.

  • Daily Diary – Baby Room

  • Baby Room Welcome & Settling-In Pack

  • Supporting Babies at Home (Shared Routines & Communication)

  • Supporting Speech & Language at Home (0–3 Years)

• 11. Transition Beyond the Baby Room

  👉 Transitions are emotional, not academic.

  • Preparing for Transition to Toddler Room

  • Sharing Information with Sensitivity

  • Supporting Babies and Families Through Change

Additional Whole-Setting Guidance | for Professional Members

Explore our whole-setting guidance below, including overarching curriculum and pedagogy documents, early years schemas and EYFS setting policies.

• Curriculum & Pedagogy

  • Little Owls Resources’ Curriculum Intent Statement

  • EYFS from Birth to 5: Curriculum Coherence & Pedagogical Throughline

  • Whole-Setting Curriculum Map (Birth-5): Curriculum Intent & Progression

  • Pedagogy Guidance Document

  • Speech & Language Development - Setting Statement

  • EYFS Inspection-Facing Summaries

• Early Years Schemas

  Early Years Schemas - Practitioner Toolkit | EYFS Birth-5

  ↪ Schema Cards (definition, behaviours, age-related examples, enabling resources)

  ↪ Schema Observation & Responsive Provision Planning Template

• EYFS Setting Policies

  • EYFS Group Setting Policies Pack

    ↪ x 22 Policy Documents

    ↪ Policy Sign-Off and Confirmation Document

    ↪ EYFS Setting Policy Folder Contents List

  • Childminder Setting Policies Pack

    ↪ x 22 Policy Documents

    ↪ Childminder Assistant or Volunteer Policy Sign-Off and Confirmation Document

    ↪ Childminder Policy Folder Contents List

• EYFS Glossary

  EYFS Glossary

  ↪ Clear, practitioner-friendly explanations of key curriculum and pedagogy terms used throughout our guidance.

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Content within the EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Membership is provided as professional guidance and support. It reflects current understanding of the EYFS statutory framework, Development Matters and inspection expectations at the time of writing. Practitioners are responsible for applying professional judgement and ensuring practice aligns with current statutory requirements and their specific context.

Updated: January 2026