Respecting my baby’s feelings and needs
When you respect your child’s needs and feelings, you help them feel valued. Understanding your child and responding appropriately nourishes early brain development but understanding babies can be hard! Your child didn’t come with an instruction manual. Even when your child starts to speak, they may not be able to clearly tell you what they need or how they are feeling.
Early on, your child’s needs are basic – food, comfort, and protection – but when they need something they need it right away! Your baby also experiences a wide range of emotions that can be overwhelming. Your child will learn to express their needs and manage their emotions when you are calm and kind as you help them.
Listen as one new parent talks about taking care of yourself and not getting overwhelmed in the early days of parenting.
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- I tell my baby what I am going to do before I do it.
- My baby deserves respect and to know what to expect.
- My baby may be too young to understand what I’m saying, but my words and tone show how much I care.
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- My baby’s body language says a lot.
- When I see my baby look away with an arched back, I can tell that my baby wants me to stop.
- When I notice those cues and take a break, I am being sensitive to my baby’s needs.
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- When I help and support my toddler,
- My toddler learns that I am dependable.
- I want my child to know that it is okay to ask for help,
- Whether my child is one year old, a teenager, or a full-grown adult.
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- I know my child is afraid of things like monsters and I try to imagine what that must feel like to a young child.
- During pretend play, I can show that I respect my child’s feelings by modelling ways to feel less scared.
- Using dolls, I show my child that being with a friend, or noticing that the monster seems gentle, are ways to manage feeling afraid.
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