Hi Candice,

I think it's different for everybody. I think there are certain things that you "know" straight away (this is probably maternal instinct), but other things can take quite a long time to work out. Sometimes you just "feel" as though something's not right or that you "know" you should do something, but can't put your finger on why you feel that way....I think that is the maternal instinct.

There are things about Jacob that took me a LONG time to work out..... for example, for a long time I couldn't tell the difference between cries (and I still don't always know now!) and I couldn't tell what it was that he needed. There are times when he cries now and I have no idea why he is doing it (and the list of possibilities usually gets longer as they get older!), but I tell myself that he is trying to tell me something.....it is a form of communication!

I think as each and every day passes you know your baby more....every day there are new things to learn about them as they grow, their personality comes shining through, and they learn how to communicate with you in different ways. So it's a process of learning their little ways (and this does take time!) in order to work out what it is they are trying to tell you or what it is that they need, and after you have picked up these little cues, sure, things to become a bit easier as you don't find yourself going through a mental checklist of possibilities! But there are still times when they throw you a few curly ones and you're not sure what they need!

I'm not sure any of that has really answered your question, but I just couldn't put a timeframe on it........