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Baby cry translator for iPhone launched

A new application which claims to be able to translate with 96 per cent accuracy the requirements of any crying child has been launched.

The application works similar to a baby monitor but with the addition that the cry is analysed and an interpretation as to what it is the baby is trying to communicate. After 10 seconds of crying, the Cry Translator will light up one of five icons to indicate, whether your baby is hungry, tired, bored, sleepy, stressed, or in some kind of discomfort.

Scientists have found the pitch and frequency of a baby's cries can indicate health problems and even the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), according to research published in 2005.

Other more recent research has shown the cries of newborns already bear the mark of their parents language, for instance, one study showed French newborns cry with rising melody patterns, slowly increasing in pitch. While German newborns have falling melody patterns, both of which are consistent with their prospective languages. That suggests infants are already picking up nuances of language in the womb.

And while newborns may not have language for some time, pediatricians have known they cry to communicate.

Although the application is clearly meant to be used for good, there are some experts who are worried that its use could deter parents from using their own senses and connections with their children to address their needs.

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