UTSpeaks: Raising babies (part one)23 August, 2011

RAISING BABIESTHE EARLY YEARS LAST A LIFETIME

J GARNER 2011

SAVE THE CHILDREN

Cathrine FowlerTresillian Chair for Child & Family Health

RESEARCH ABOUT BABIES & PARENTING

• Increased understanding of brain development during the early years

• Babies are born with multiple and complex abilities but also some limitations

• Babies feel pain

RESEARCH ABOUT BABIES & PARENTING

• Identification of early relationship development and parent infant interaction

2 KEY PARENTING ABILITIES

• Supporting the development of infant self-regulation

• Ability to understand the experience of the infant

SELF-REGULATION

The process of the infant gaining regulation of their behaviour.

We are mirrors for a baby that tell him/her who s/he is.

We are also windows that tell him/her what s/he can expect.

Jeree Pawl 2001

Babies don’t come with a manual they are the manual

SIX INFANT STATESSleep states

•quiet sleep (NREM)•active sleep (REM)

Transitional states

•drowsy

Awake states

•quiet alert•active alert• crying

COMMUNICATION CUES

Engagement Disengagement

CUES

Engagement Disengagement

• Potent

• Subtle

• Potent

• Subtle

INFANT CUES PROVIDE CHILDREN A POWERFUL VOICE. ADULTS REQUIRE INSIGHT INTO WHAT IS BEING COMMUNICATED BY THE INFANT PROF KATHRYN BARNARD 2006

A parent’s role is to provide the conditions for a baby to grow, develop and sleep

Its not a parent’s responsibility to make the baby grow, develop or sleep