First Years Last Forever / I am your child Video details

28 minutes 55 seconds

Johnson & Johnson / The Reiner Foundation. 1997

$10.95 from http://store.parentsactionstore.org/prostores/servlet/Detail?no=4

Baby’s brain development: from the moment baby is born, he is learning

- 90% of brain growth in the first three years. Grows through experience. If you provide consistent, enriching, nourishing experiences, baby’s brain develops more

The moment of birth (shows a birth – no genital views): birth of relationships that shape baby’s life. At birth, super-alert, all senses tuned. Shows a day-old infant turning toward sound of mom’s voice rather than doctor’s voice, then toward dad rather than doctor. Bonding and love are the most important things parents can do.

How to bond with your baby: touch, smiling, feeding. Cuddle, don’t overstimulate, be sensitive to cues.

Communication: baby communicates from day one. Yawn may mean tired, may mean overloaded. Cries: several distinct cries: I’m hungry / in pain / need attention. Important to respond.  Infant states: quiet alert is the best time to play.

Split screen of baby and parent: when mom sings and smiles, baby responds. When mom has blank expression, baby becomes disengaged, disconnected.

Mom sticking out tongue, baby responding.

This interaction also helps get your child ready to speak

At birth, they’re wired to learn any language.

Shows skills for reading to baby in an engaged way

Health & Nutrition

Begins long before birth: mom’s diet, physical condition, and stress levels influence growing fetus

Breastfeeding is best

Shows kids eating – they will develop their own tastes and preferences

Safety is important: car seats and childproofing.

Any questions: ask HCP

Regular medical visits are important

Discipline

- Spoiling? Can’t spoil a newborn. Best to respond quickly to cues

- Babies aren’t good at regulating. Parents help them with it

- Sleep: if baby starts to stir, wait a moment to see if it’s just light sleep noises and they fall back asleep. If not, come in and soothe. When you respond to her needs, she discovers the world is safe, predictable, and loving

- As baby gets older, will push limits: needs predictable boundaries.

- Never spank, hit, or hurt your child. Physical punishment leaves emotional scars

- Techniques: re-directing attn, limiting choices, time out

- Discipline is all about love  and child learning to self-regulate

Self-esteem: strong sense of self is basis for healthy development. All kids are unique temperaments from the start. Discover who they are, and value that person, even if it’s different from what you expected.

Encourage exploration.

Give lots of praise – concrete feedback on what they’re doing that you like

Respect your child

Child care

- people who care for children should care about children: should be up-to-date and informed about child development; daycare should be clean, healthy, safe

Self-awareness

To take care of your baby, take care of yourself too.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help: from friends, family, community groups

Take parenting classes: the more you learn, the better job you’ll do

Try to give your child your best. But no such thing as a perfect parent