What Babies Want

An award-winning feature documentary on the nature, awareness and inner lives of newborns, directed by Debby Takikawa and narrated by Noah Wyle.

Drawing on cutting-edge science, ancient cultures and traditional customs, the film explores the consciousness of infants and makes the case that how babies are welcomed into the world shapes their capacity for compassionate, meaningful connection as they grow. David served as producer and editor on What Babies Want, and again on the follow-up documentary Reducing Infant Mortality, the complete film for which is below. Part of a movement rethinking birth practices, the film has been viewed millions of times and is used by midwives and doulas around the world in birth education.