261 Chapter 11 Providing for the Infant’s Developmental Needs
Baby-Adult Interaction
Each baby comes into the world
with a unique temperament. Adults
may respond positively or negatively
toward the baby’s temperament.
Adults’ feelings are conveyed mainly
through the way they hold, touch,
and look at the baby. The baby reacts
to adults’ feelings and actions. For
example, if adults are tense or the
baby’s needs are unmet, the baby
becomes fussy and diffi cult. On the
other hand, when adults are relaxed
and the baby’s needs are promptly
met, the baby is more often quiet
and cooperative.
Adults who have good
relationships with babies seem to
respect their temperaments. Two
nationally-known infant educators,
Alice Sterling Honig and Magda
Gerber, have taught the need to
respect each baby’s individual
temperament and interests. For
example, active babies often get
into places they do not belong.
They require more watching than
less active children. These parents
should adjust their own behaviors
to provide this extra level of care.
Babies feel love through
physical contact with the adult,
11-16. Physical messages shape
feelings between adults and babies.
A single or seldom-sent message
does not determine the relationship.
The quality of the relationship is
infl uenced more by the total number
of messages and the strength of these
messages. Even the most loving
adults can be hurried and tense at
times. In a healthy relationship, the
balance must be on the positive side.
Adults should realize that
relationships with children are rather
one-sided for many years. Babies may
give some smiles and hugs, but adults
must do most of the giving. This
giving is important, though, because
the feelings adults show for babies
help to shape babies’ self-concepts.
Fostering good feelings in babies
seems to increase the joy and love
between babies and their caregivers.
Helping Babies Develop
Self-Awareness
In the fi rst year, a baby begins
to develop self-awareness or an
understanding of himself or herself
as a unique person. As babies
develop self-awareness, they form a
mental picture of themselves. They
form an idea of who they are and
what they can do.
Babies gaze at their hands for
hours, making slight movements.
As their brains process the sight and
sensation of these moving hands,
babies learn their hands are a part
of them. This discovery helps babies
become more aware of their bodies.
11-16 The feeling of love and joy between
a baby and an adult can be shared
through physical contact.