What Babies Have To Say

1
What Babies Have To Say

• Its more than you think!

2
Brain and Sensory Development

• This is where it all begins - literally

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Sensory Integration and Brain Development

• Infant learns everything through senses
• Touch Acquired at 7 ½ weeks gestation
• Most important sense for getting information to
  brain
  
• Hearing Acquired at 22 weeks gestation
• Major impact on how well baby already knows
  mother
  
• Sensitive to sounds in environment
• Vision Sees human face first
• Movement Sensitive to moving through space

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At Birth, the Newborn

• Can lift his head when laying on his tummy
• Recognizes moms scent and voice over all others
• Loves to look at faces
• Uses crying to tell you what he wants
• Learns about his world through his senses

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More Senses - Touching

• A loving hand on Babys head feet helps him
  have a better understanding of where he is in
  space
  
• Spend a few minutes touching even if only his
  fingers toes, especially if s/he is crying
  

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HEARING Music/Singing Soft Lullabies (Senso
ry stimulation)
Stimulates right side of the brain
Right side is dominant for the 1st three years of
life (tone, voice, gestures) Calms central nervo
us system Detracts from noxious stimuli
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Hands to Midline/Sensory Integration

• Two sides of the brain talk to each other most
  efficiently
  
• Opportunity to suck
• Opportunity to learn self-calm
• Opportunity for finger insertion
• Prepares body to reach and hold object

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Developmental Milestones

• The insertion of finger into the mouth is one of
  the first milestones we look for in a
  well-organized infant.
  
• Please encourage this behavior !

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Milestones

• Let me curl my hand around your finger.
• This is a developmental milestone !

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Baby Milestones

• Look ! I can clasp my hands.
• This is an indication that I am very well
  organized

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Infant CuesCryingPast the Point of No Return
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Disengagement Cuesfurrowed brow
13
Disengagement CuesHand Flags
14
Disengagement CuesWorried Look
15
I Need a BREAK !
16
The Lights are TOO BRIGHT!
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Engagement CuesReaching Out
18
Engagement CuesEye contact with Mommy
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POSITIONS FOR COMFORT

• Allow baby to brace feet
• Apply gentle pressure to bottoms of feet
• Position his hands near the face
• Place your hand firmly on back or stomach

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STRATEGIES FOR CALMING
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When You Approach a Baby

• Stand quietly by bedside until infant is aware of
  you.
  
• Speak softly gently, firmly press hand on back
  or press infant hands to his chest.
  
• Introduce one stimulation at a time, back off if
  needed
  
• Remember, you are relationship building.
• Proceed at his pace, watch and respect her cues.

22
When You Approach A Baby

• Talk baby through his crying. Talk her through
  whatever you are doing.
  
• Interaction is the most important thing you
  provide.
  
• Gently position infant in sitting in his bed.
  Weight of her body aids relaxing.
  
• Search for eye contact with baby.

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Changing Diapers

• Unwrap slowly, It is COLD AIR! Can you leave
  his arms swadded?
  
• Let her suck her thumb
• Check diaper
• Use warm wet cloth/ not wipes, on bottom
• Dont be afraid to stop, press her hands to her
  chest, talk, to comfort
  
• Begin again calmly

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Baby in flexion, legs supported, hands close to
face

• Great Positioning !

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Kangaroo Care Position for Mothers (or caregiver)

• Firm Containment offers infant secure stability
• Hold Close to Body, stomach to stomach
• Infant is upright almost in sit position on your
  lap
  
• One hand presses trunk to your trunk
• Other hand contains feet and holds knees flexed.

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Swaddling an infant

• Provides comfort and containment
• Blanket is square, fold a triangle at the top
• Place infant shoulders on top of triangle
• Place hands to midline, close to face for
  calming
  
• Baby needs his hands ! Allow him to touch his
  world for information !
  
• Bring up bottom so infant is in easy flexion,
  knees bent
  

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Hold close, get down close to talk, Swaddle and
hold up to shoulder
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Swaddle Bathing
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Tummy Time for Calming

• Put Baby on his tummy over your knee
• Let babys head rest on his hands.
• Place baby on his elbows

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Enhancement of Quiet Alert State

• Massage babys feet and toes
• Feel his body relax

31
Basic Principles of Developmental CareModifying
the Environment

• Look around baby
• What are sources of loud, jarring sounds that
  could increase anxiety?
  
• Is light so bright that the infant doesnt open
  his eyes?
  
• How can we make environment calmer/ more soothing
  for baby?

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Diffuse Lightcreate a calm environment

• Provide area without direct light overhead
• Example You sleeping in brightly lit room
• Bright light is one more thing for baby to handle
  stimulus-wise
  
• Zaps Babys energy

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Use Repetition to Soothe

• One or more ways over and over in a slow style
• Show the infant your face
• Pick up and hold baby close to you
• Hold gently both of the infants arms to midline
  
  
• Sing,hum, or croon to baby
• Rock or walk the infant
• Talk to the infant in a steady voice
• Wrap baby snugly in a blanket
• Stroke one area of babys body such as the
  head,foot, or back
  

34
Reading To Your Baby

• Encourages early language
• Helps your baby to do better in school later
• Let your baby help turn the pages
• Tap gently on the pages to get babys attention