Dream dictionary: Infant. What does a dream about an infant mean?

What does a dream about an infant mean?

An infant represents pure beginnings, defencelessness and hope. In dream books it foretells joyful news or a need to provide care.

The most common variants of the dream

• a smiling infant: joy, good news
• a crying infant: a matter that demands attention
• feeding an infant: nurturing that bears fruit
• an infant in a man's dream: sensitivity, a new responsibility

What psychology says

It frequently symbolises a new project or a tender part of oneself.

In English-speaking tradition

In British and American dream-lore, dreaming of a healthy baby has long been regarded as an omen of good fortune, new beginnings and domestic happiness, a tradition reflected in early English dream books such as those of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The popular saying "out of the mouths of babes" reinforces the infant's association with innocence and unvarnished truth. A crying baby in a dream was traditionally considered a warning of coming trouble or neglected duties, whilst a laughing baby promised prosperity. In wider English-speaking folklore, the infant also connects to the archetype of the "New Year Baby," symbolising fresh starts and untapped potential.

A question for yourself

What new thing must I now carefully tend to?

Write your answer down right after waking up. The dreamer understands a dream best; the dictionary is only a hint.

Other dreams in the dictionary

All entries: Dream dictionary A–Z.

Frequently asked questions

What does a dream about an infant mean?

An infant represents pure beginnings, defencelessness and hope. In dream books it foretells joyful news or a need to provide care.

Is a dream about an infant a bad sign?

The dictionary describes dreams as symbols, not predictions. The meaning depends on the emotions in the dream and on your situation; the same image can be a good sign or a warning.