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Boost your confidence and connection with your baby from Day One

Parents who use DBL, experience enhanced secure attachment, significant reduction in stress and a happier baby

Book Now

Boost your confidence and connection with your baby from Day One

Parents who use DBL, experience enhanced secure attachment, significant reduction in stress and a happier baby

Book Now

What is Dunstan Baby Language?

Babies don't come with a manual, do they?

You will have heard by now that crying is communication. But no one has told you what exactly that means.

Imagine how it would be if you could understand your baby from the minute she was born. No more guess work.

The Dunstan Baby method is a clear and easy way to tune into your baby, listen and understand their needs based on the 5 unique sounds every baby makes.

It will empower you to become an even more confident parent.

Tell me more about the sounds!

Crying is Communication

Dunstan Baby Language (DBL) is a communication method to help parents learn what their newborn needs when she cries.

DBL is used by parents and infant care professionals in countries all over the world - including lactation and sleep consultants, nurses, midwives, pediatricians, naturopathic practitioners, doctors, infant massage practitioners and many others.

Learn about the benefits

Your baby makes a pre-cry sound...

...based on bodily reflexes.

When they have wind in their upper chest,

...based on bodily reflexes.

This is something they can't control, like a hiccup. Before they erupt into full on crying, they will make distinct sounds to let you know what exactly they need.

When a newborn is hungry

When they have wind in their upper chest,

...based on bodily reflexes.

the sucking reflex kicks in, and their tongue and mouth start to move as if they are feeding. When this happens they make a ‘NEH’ sound.

When they have wind in their upper chest,

the chest muscles are ‘squeezing’, trying to assist the air to come up. The pre-cry sound which this reflex produces is ‘EH’.

Benefits of learning DBL

Babies cry less

Encourage breastfeeding

From the second your little bundle of joy is born you will be able to instantly pick up on your infant's needs and meet them quickly and confidently.

Encourage breastfeeding

Babies indicate their hunger, and they will attach properly for optimal feeding. It also gives you peace of mind if you ever worry if your baby gets enough milk.

Dad as an equal partner

Encourage breastfeeding

Decrease the incidence of colics

Fathers who have learned the DBL reportedly build a stronger bond with their infant, are less stressed, feel more competent in attending to baby's needs and experience a better relationship with their partner.

Decrease the incidence of colics

Parents can recognise the ‘wind’ cry and will learn a way to reduce it from happening.

Establish Secure Attachment

Decrease the incidence of colics

Establish Secure Attachment

This is vital for your baby's long-term well-being. They learn they can rely on and trust you.

Better uninterrupted sleep

Decrease the incidence of colics

Establish Secure Attachment

It can be tricky for a new parent to know when their baby is tired. Some babies are more sensitive than others and get overstimulated very quickly. By being able to respond to your baby before they become overtired you ensure better and longer sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions

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’. 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.

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.

Is this following secure attachment theories?

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 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 'cry it out' or extinction method recommended throughout the system.

Who can attend?

Parents

DBL classes are for parents either in their late 3rd trimester of pregnancy or with a baby up to 4 months old. Please book your spot through here.

There will be a maximum of 6 families in each class.

Professionals

For any professionals (eg. midwives, gynecologists, lactation consultants, doulas) who wish to add DBL qualifications as an additional service for their clients, please contact Sonja.

Where are classes held?

Classes take place online using a video online tool. You will need your video and microphone switched on. Ensure that the ambient noise setting allows us to hear your baby.

I am happy to arrange a course individually to be able to tune in to your baby and respond to your specific questions and needs. This can be online or face to face for an additional fee. It's an exclusive 1:1 time with me to help you tune in to your baby.

How is Dunstan Baby Language taught?

The course is presented online by certified DBL Educator Diana.

As well as sharing information, there will be video- and audio clips, explanations and some demonstrations.

You’ll receive access to the sound clips so you can practice your listening skills.

Testimonials

"

Being able to understand my newborn's cries was a game changer for us.

Diana walked my husband and I through the Dunstan Baby language and was able to identify the cries of our unsettled 4-weeks old. Turns out our little girl had gas issues and was in pain. We have since taken steps to address her gassiness and things have been so much better. We have also been able to identify the other 4 cries and cater to her needs accordingly.

I would highly recommend Diana as a coach if you're wanting to have a closer bond with your newborn - it makes such a difference being able to know what your baby is asking for! We've had fun identifying her different cries and seeing her calm down when we address the issues :)

-Kayla & Dan, baby 4 weeks old

"

I found the Dunstan Baby Language course really useful and interesting.

I picked up that my son seems to need to be burped more than I had realised and that this could be what has been making him fussy. I’m learning the way my son communicates the other words and am starting to be able to address his needs better. It is less stressful when my son is having a meltdown as the sounds give me a place to start to tend to him.

Diana was great to work with, it was so easy to work around my day and my baby’s needs with the course. She is very supportive and understanding of new parents and shared lots of tips from her own DBL experience.

Thanks again for a great course! It’s been really interesting and I’m getting better at applying it!

-Kelsea, baby 6 weeks old

Still have some questions?

Stay in the loop!

Want to know more about upcoming events, new discoveries and updates about the Dunstan Baby Language? You would like to be kept in the loop about exciting products around bonding? Want to just share your thoughts? Send me a message!

Dunstan Baby New Zealand

Wellington, New Zealand

Boost your confidence and connection with your baby from Day One

Boost your confidence and connection with your baby from Day One

What is Dunstan Baby Language?

Babies don't come with a manual, do they?

Crying is Communication

Your baby makes a pre-cry sound...

...based on bodily reflexes.

When they have wind in their upper chest,

...based on bodily reflexes.

When a newborn is hungry

When they have wind in their upper chest,

...based on bodily reflexes.

When they have wind in their upper chest,

When they have wind in their upper chest,

When they have wind in their upper chest,

Benefits of learning DBL

Babies cry less

Encourage breastfeeding

Encourage breastfeeding

Encourage breastfeeding

Encourage breastfeeding

Encourage breastfeeding

Dad as an equal partner

Encourage breastfeeding

Decrease the incidence of colics

Decrease the incidence of colics

Decrease the incidence of colics

Decrease the incidence of colics

Establish Secure Attachment

Decrease the incidence of colics

Establish Secure Attachment

Better uninterrupted sleep

Decrease the incidence of colics

Establish Secure Attachment

Frequently Asked Questions

Testimonials

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Still have some questions?

Get in touch :)

Stay in the loop!

Dunstan Baby New Zealand

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