Five Emotional Needs of Babies

Babies, just like children and adults of any age have five critical emotional needs.

• The need to feel repected
• The need to feel important
• The need to feel accepted
• The need to feel included
• The need to feel secure

Babies brains are developing rapidly. Our brains contain brain cells called neurons which communicate with each other through connections called synapses. How these synapses communicate- the pathways they form- depends upon early life experiences. If a baby's needs are met and their caregivers are emotionally available, they will feel secure...wiring their brain to trust. Babies who have the opposite experiences will have differently shaped brain paths.

In addition to the brain connections, babies that experience chronic stress excrete higher levels of cortisol- a stress hormone. Prolonged stress in infancy alters the brain structure, giving them a predisposition to depression or aggression later in life. Also, high cortisol levels make it difficult for real learning to take place as it reduces synapse activity. Babies feel stress when their needs are not met. They need a consistent, loving caregiver that responds to their cries, and problems solves to find what they need.

 

Babies who have loving, emotionally available caregivers who make authentic connections with them have positive feelings and emotions, such as joy, laughter, and positive engagement. The brain releases the hormone serotonin during these times which makes the synapses more receptive to connections and learning.


Ways to strengthen those connections:
Respond to your baby's crying within 90 seconds.
Use a pleasant, soothing voice.
Talk to your baby about what she might be feeling or what is happening around her using simple language.
Move slowly and let your baby know what will be happening next, especially if it involves moving him.
Look into your baby's eyes and hold and touch her lovingly.
Sing and read to your baby.
Engage in play with your baby, being sensitive to your baby's responsiveness.
Use routines such as diapering and feeding as opportunites to connect rather than rushing through them.

We have MANY books on infant development in our Resource Libraries:

"Ages and Stages" by Karen Miller
"How to Raise Emotionally Healthy Children" by Dr. Gerald Newmark
"Our Babies, Ourselves" by Meredith Small
"You are My World" by Amy Hatkoff
"A Guide to Social-Emotional Growth and Socialization" by West Ed
"Touchpoints: Birth to Three" by T. Berry Brazelton
"Your Child's Growing Mind" by Jane M. Healy, PhD
"Smart--wiring your Baby's Brain" by Winifred Conkling


"Babies in the Rain: promoting play, exploration, and discovery with infants and toddlers" by Jeff A. Johnson
"Games to Play with Babies" by Jackie Silberg
"Building Baby's Brain Power" by Noreen Darragh Lantry, RN & Katherine Hummel, LCSW
"The Diaper Bag Book for Babies" by Robin Dodson and Jan Mades
""Baby Play & Learn: 160 games and learning actviities for the first three years" by Penny Warner