Through the Eyes of an Infant

What does life look like through the eyes of a baby? The more you know about a child's needs the better you can be at meeting them. This web unit will talk about an infant's need for a trusting relationship and sensitive caregiving.

The most important thing for you to know is that babies need to trust you. Babies need to know that you will come when they cry. You'll probably be surprised to learn what child development researchers have found out about babies. If you respond when a baby cries during the early infancy, the child will cry a lot less between the ages of 6 and 12 months. You can not spoil babies by coming when they cry. If you are busy taking care of the needs of another child and the baby cries for you, talk to the baby and tell them you're coming. It helps if you talk to the baby when you can't come right away so the sound of your voice can comfort the baby, until you are able to attend to her needs.

A good trusting relationship has a special name, a secure attachment. When a child has a secure attachment, they feel sure that you will care for them. These kids feel safer and spend more time exploring the toys and things in their world. Secure kids spend more energy learning. Babies with secure attachments grow into kids who do better in lots of ways than children with insecure attachments. They do better with friends and learning in school. So making a trusting relationship is one of the most important things that you can do to help each child to grow up to have healthy relationships and to succeed in school.

To take really good care of a child, you have to get to know each baby. Babies have their own special ways of telling you when they are happy, tired, hungry, bored, need to stop playing or need a fresh diaper. They have many ways to communicate. Watch where they are looking with their eyes, the kind of facial expressions they make, and take notice to all their different body movements. Listen to the little babbling sounds infants make and their different crying messages. All of these signals and more will help you get to know each baby. Learn how each baby likes to be held. Some of them like to watch the world go by and others like to face you and snuggle their heads in your neck, and some of them like both of these things at different times. Get to know each baby's schedule. Some babies are very regular and are often hungry and tired at the same time everyday. Other babies are irregular in their habits and you will have to work a little harder to get to know just what they need. Eventually most children can learn to sleep and eat on a schedule but at first you'll have to tune into them and let them eat and sleep on their own timetable.

You can learn a lot from moms, dads, grandma and grandpas. Watch what they do with the baby, and ask them some questions. If a baby sometimes has trouble going to sleep ask for some ideas. Ask them how they help the child to go to sleep. Then you can try it. Children find it comforting to have something familiar happening at home and in child care.

Babies love being part of their own caregiving. Little things mean a lot here. They can learn to hold their diapers when you are changing them. Let children do things by themselves whenever possible, don't get toys that have moved out of reach until first you let the child have a try at getting them for him or herself. Many children have learned to crawl this way. When you're feeding the baby, watch carefully to see when the child is ready for the bottle or the next bite of cereal. Don't try to feed them when they are not ready. Wait for the child's signal. Remember that even though babies like to hold the bottle themselves sometimes, they still need you to hold them since they can choke if you're not watching. Let them try to feed themselves with fingers and spoons. It is kind of messy but it is a very important way for babies to learn.

There are many diapers to change when you care for an infant and it's very important that you make this a pleasant time. Babies are very aware of the messages we send. Talk with the baby or sing a song during diapering routines. Tell them what you are doing each step of the way and as they learn to work with you, they are learning the very first steps to being independent. As baby gets older ask them to hold the diaper or lift their bottom. Make all the routines of the day, like diapering, feeding and washing warm caring positive times. A song or a laugh during mealtimes, or when you wash the babies face can make routine caregiving a warm and wonderful time and that's what quality caregiving is all about.

Babies learn language best when you talk about the things you and the baby are doing or seeing. It is important to talk to babies even though they aren't talking. Even when they can't speak a word, babies are capable of communicating. Babies say things with their bodies, waving arms and wiggling feet, when they cry, and through the little cooing sounds they make. Talk to babies, and then listen for the many ways that babies communicate.

Keep language simple. Babies enjoy hearing the sound of your words and they have been busy processing words and symbols from birth. Your words are the earliest foundations to language and literacy. Take the time to talk and to listen. It is possible to have a real conversation with an infant, watch carefully for baby's responses to you. They are there!

Babies like being with other children of all ages. Sometimes caregivers keep babies away from other children afraid that someone will get hurt. But babies need other children, too. Teach them to touch each other gently by talking about and showing them "gentle touch". Sit down on the floor with the baby and then you can be nearby to help and watch all of the children closely so no one gets hurt.

Playing games with babies is more than just fun. Babies learn a lot when you play games like peek-a-boo with them. You don't have to have many ideas; just one simple one will work best. Try playing the same game regularly. Babies are continual processing and putting together the world around them. Simple games teach them cause and effect. They enjoy anticipating what is going to happen next. This is what gives the game its value.

Babies look delicate and fragile but when it comes to going outside they certainly are not. Going outside does not make a baby more likely to get sick, only germs can do that. They don't really mind the weather; all the feelings are new, the blowing of the wind, the warmth of the sun shining and the tiny pecks of snowflakes on their skin. Just dress babies in the right clothes for the weather and then take them outside. There is so much to see, feel and do outside that it is one of the most important parts of a child's day.

Babies miss their family members a lot and they might even cry a great deal at times, especially around the age of eight months. Don't ever give up trying to comfort a child. Reassure them even if they don't understand your words. Your tone can be calming when you say these things and that alone can help. Peek-a-boo is a great game to play with a baby who is missing family. It reassures children that people who go away will come back.

Tell the family about something the baby did each day; the best stories are just the little things. Let them tell you about my first tooth, or the child's first step even if you know about them already. They miss the baby so much and they love to hear little stories regularly.