Social referencing is when a baby looks at a trusted adult's face and listens to their voice to decide how to react to an unfamiliar person, object or situation. It usually develops towards the end of the first year, and by the second year babies clearly use adults' emotional expressions to guide their behaviour.
What you can do
- Show a calm, reassuring face in new situations.
- Explain what is happening in a warm voice.
- Smile and nod when your baby checks in with you.
