New Parents, New Baby Chapter 12 PART2

How Newborns Learn The sensorimotor stage begins PIAGET’S SENSORIMOTOR STAGE: learning through the senses and motor skills From birth to age 2, children learn through their perceptions and reactions to what they see, hear, touch, taste and smell. Infants learn by doing things with: Objects: dropping, hitting, shaking, rolling. etc Bodies: sucking, grasping etc SUBSTAGE 1A: Exercising reflexes: birth-1 month---spend MUCH of their waking time exercising tier sucking, looking, grasping, hearing and sound making reflexes. These reflexes become voluntary after time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdiCep6OStA

CRYING: the first language! Communication in the first few months Crying is the ONLY way newborns can communicate Why do newborns cry? They need something: hunger, attention, pain Relieve tension RESPOND promptly and consistently! Does not mean to respond to every whimper Parents need to understand the importance of responding ASAP Does NOT spoil babies Fulfills the “trust” needs that babies have

NEW BABY, NEW ADJUSTMENTS Parenting Adjustments Learning baby care skills Handling AROUND THE CLOCK BABY NEEDS…Newborns wake up every 2-4 hours… Resist trying to put a newborn on a schedule. At least until their “biological clock” is set… Catch a nap when the baby is sleeping Try to get additional adult help Soothing a crying baby Colic-inconsolable crying that cannot be comforted or soothed. Do not feel responsible for the crying Try some soothers Get relief Understand baby’s adjustments Focus on the joys of having a baby

ADJUSTMENTS Continued Family-Life adjustments Handling household tasks Balancing career and family life Meeting financial needs Childcare costs vs. income Almost $10,ooo/year childcare ALONE (READ COST OF CHILDCARE) Helping Sibling adjust Keeping the couples relationship strong MAKING SELF PRIORITY

CONTINUED WHEN STRESS IS TOO SEVERE: some parenting stress becomes too intense or too long-term to manage. Parents most at risk include those who Have negative views of the spouse or the marriage Are most unrealistic about the changes the new baby brought Have severe post partum depression (mothers) Feel as though they might hurt their baby or themselves Have multiple babies or babies with fragile health SEEK IMMEDIATE help if stress is prolonged.

ACTIVITY Choose a Infant care topic and Demonstrate or Present to the class Diapering Feeding Sponge Bathing Tub Bathing Dressing Weaning Sleeping Playing Travel