Kindle Notes & Highlights
This personalized approach to the baby promotes positive self-esteem (Bettelheim, 1987) and develops the baby’s body awareness and social responsiveness (Gerber, 1979). “An infant who is encouraged to actively participate in his or her care will be challenged to master his own care as he grows older” (Gerber, 1979, p. 38). Allowing babies to be included in their care influences how they develop in later life.
What you do with the baby affects the baby’s outlook and ability to master his or her life in later years. What you do with the baby influences how the young child perceives himself now and in his future.
When you allow the baby to participate, the baby will do more on his or her own.
Also, if you forget to show babies they are special, you promote the baby’s passivity.
Babies need a lot of time to eat to satisfaction, usually 20–30 minutes at each feeding.
Babies rest between ounces of formula and helpings of food. Caregivers may interpret this as a signal that the baby is finished eating.
Young babies who drink one to two ounces often will drift off to sleep for a short period of time. Sitting the baby up to burp at that time may bring the baby to a more
awake state. Talking to the baby also helps the baby to stay awake. He then may be ready for more food.
But spending quality time during feeding often meets babies’ physical and emotional needs. When this happens, babies are content to explore and play on their own. If the needs of babies are met during caregiving times, they will be content to be on their own at other times. This will give caregivers time to devote to the individual needs of all babies.
Let the baby have as much as he or she wants to drink. If the baby turns away or shows disinterest, do not force the baby to eat or continue to try to feed the baby. Observe and respect the baby’s needs. It usually takes 20–30 minutes to feed a baby a
“We need to respect what infants can do instead of encouraging them to do what they are not ready to
Allowing babies to move when they are ready is the best way for them to develop their gross motor abilities.
Babies’ nonverbal body cues are important to recognize as part of communication.
too much stimulation at one time can confuse and cause babies to miss potential learning experiences.
they need time to explore simple objects.
When babies manipulate objects, they learn the different properties
and functions of the...
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When babies are overstimulated and entertained by objects and toys, they tend to become passive onlooke...
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realize that moving objects mesmerize babies and shut down the thinking part of the brain.
very young babies only need their own body. Babies come into this world equipped to play. Hands are babies’ first play objects.
Putting too much in the play area for infants can be overwhelming and overstimulating. This may cause babies to become irritable and cranky. One
rule of thumb is to provide two or three objects per infant
in the area and to limit the number of babies in the play spa...
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Babies are sensitive to order. They can experience physical and mental fatigue in a chaotic room.
In an orderly environment, babies can see an object clearly, which helps their ability to concentrate.
Showing babies how to use a toy can rob them of developing valuable creative problem-solving skills.
Observing babies, announcing what you are going to do before doing it, and asking a baby’s permission to touch shows that you are sensitive to them as individuals.
Being sensitive to babies includes knowing when to touch and realizing that your touch can also interfere with a baby’s desire and interest.
Touching babies without telling them what you are about to do or without asking their
permission reflects a belief that babies are unaware of what is happening and what you do with them makes little difference. This attitude disregards babies’ individual feelings.
When you touch, cuddle, and move babies for no good reason, your actions are telling the babies that what they are doing is less important than what you want. What message is given to babies when you choose to act on your needs above the babies’? Will they feel more or less important? What about their feelings? Will they be frustrated? Does this show the infants
it is essential to determine when touch is a help to the baby or a hindrance.
