What do your baby’s cries mean? New listening device translates

Have you ever held a crying baby and felt utterly helpless? Even after burping, rocking or singing to the little one, you can’t figure out why the cries just won’t stop? If you’ve found yourself wishing that your infant could talk and tell you what’s wrong, maybe your wish is about to be fulfilled.

According to the National Taiwan Normal University, researchers claim to have developed a listening device that can translate your baby’s cries into words, telling parents exactly what is causing unhappiness in your child.

According to the promotional video, the patented listening system captures the sound of an infant’s crying, then analyzes the cry by comparing it to a database of other cries that have happened at similar times and at similar frequencies. After the type of cry has been analyzed, the device can tell a parent if the baby is hungry, sleepy, uncomfortable or even sick.

Researchers say the device will offer valuable information to even the most acutely trained parent who struggles to figure out a child’s need.

“Most parents learn to recognize different kinds of cries,” said a spokesperson to kidspot.com. “But there are subtle differences that may escape even the instinctively tuned sense of a mother. Fortunately, technology has lent an ear.”