The newborn is fully capable of perceiving and expressing emotion. Comprehension of the emotional state of an infant is requisite to finding the correct remedy and coming to a deeply curative prescription. When observing the infant it is evident that the body posture and position, facial expression and eyes all form windows into the emotional realm.

The child can express discomfort even in a loving and caring environment because each infant is an individual and some babies are extremely sensitive to stimuli or have a predisposition for digestive, neurologic or sensory disorders.

The newborn is capable of a full spectrum of emotional expression. They may feel anger, sadness and fright. The child has interest in the surroundings and is sensitive to stimuli in the environment such as light, noise, and motion.   Each child can respond to the environment in a variety of ways, being alert, startling, or tuning out and falling asleep.

When taking the case of an infant, it is critically important to compassionately understand the family system. The homeopath must sense the current emotional climate and understand what the parents are feeling.   If a child is nursing, there is a direct line of emotional communication. The emotions experienced by the mother are coded to the baby, who readily perceives the emotion.

The history of the birth experience may provide clues to the simillimum (closely matching remedy) in the newborn.   It might be important to know the attitude of the mother during labor. If the mother experienced undue fear, pain or trauma during the delivery the baby may be affected. Other significant elements may include;

• How long the labor lasted, how much pain was involved, and whether the labor well tolerated by the mother.
• The medical condition of the mother.
• Who was present at the birth?
• Was medical intervention necessary, such as the use of Pitocin, suction extraction or caesarean section?
• The condition of the infant at birth including the Apgar scoring

Bonding at birth is one of the most important events in the development of trust in the infant. If there is interference in the bonding process, problems and symptoms will manifest. Bonding can be affected by a temporary or lengthy separation at birth, illness in the mother or infant, or feelings of inadequacy and tension in either parent.

Observing the expression in the eyes of an infant is an important method of evaluation for the homeopath. This will allow the sensitive prescriber to gain insight into the emotional state of the organism.   Anger may be observed in eyes that are crunched or slit, fear may result in protrusion of the eyeballs, and sadness may manifest in very little blinking with a fixed gaze and a lack of reaction.

Crying is another way the baby communicates his or her emotional state. Differentiate one type of cry from another, and understand the meaning of each type to determine whether or not the cry is a symptom. For example, the hungry cry, is recognized by the soft moaning tones which, if ignored, will transform into a more vigorous cry. A frustrated cry can be vigorous from the start. Babies will often turn quite red when expressing an anger in the cry. The cry of pain can start with a scream which is followed by a long pause for breath and then proceeds with vigor. It is important to listen for the type of crying that indicates pain. There is also a needing cry or fussiness which develops after the first month of life when the baby is expressing a demand for attention.

All children experience fears at various stages of life, and infants are no exception. Depending on the remedy, newborns can be particularly fearful of sudden shifts or extremes of stimulation such as loud noise, bright lights, or rapid movement. Many can also have an instinctive fear of being dropped when their heads or limbs are not being fully supported. Some dislike being dressed and undressed.

Some infants can also become quite upset when there is a sudden shift in routine, or an alteration of the reality they have learned to expect. For example, the sight of a parent wearing a mask or hat, or a dad wearing shaving cream may cause agitation and fright.

Reactions to external stimuli may differ according to the remedy of the child. For Example a Calcarea carbonica baby will be afraid of the vacuum cleaner, while the Sulphur baby approaches it without any fear at all.   Some infants want to be tightly bundled in blankets and others desire more freedom of movement. The infant can show signs of separation anxiety at an early age. Even tiny ones can cry and shriek toward the departing parent.

In order to gain understanding of the baby in the waking hours the homeopath should observe the infant at the breast. How well does the child latch on to the breast? How long does the baby desire to nurse? Is there a preference of one breast over another? Some babies prefer the left breast and others prefer the right breast. These are all subtle clues to the remedy needed by the newborn. Is the baby sleepy on the breast?   does she like small snacks or large meals?   Is there an amelioration after the meal?   Is there a tiredness after eating?

Inquiry into the topic of sleep provides a wealth of information that will guide in the selection of a remedy. Many babies do not sleep through the night.   There are many causes of wakefulness including hunger, teething, gas pains, a wet diaper, or being too warm or too cold. The position of sleep can also be a symptom. The homeopath must determine the etiology of the problem and the chosen remedy must address the problem at this source. These are just some of the small details that make up the constellation and indicate a needed homeopathic remedy. Ability to observe and interpret the physical expression and the emotional clues lead to an understanding of the inner state of the organism and is paramount to the homeopathic treatment of children.