Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 10 Social-Emotional Development in the First Year 291 becomes fussy and diffi cult. On the other hand, when adults are relaxed and the newborn’s needs are promptly met, he or she is more often quiet and cooperative. Sometimes there is a goodness of fi t between a parent’s personality and a child’s temperament. This means that the child’s temperament matches the parent’s ideal. Sometimes the fi t is not so good. Adults who have good relationships with babies seem to respect their temperaments regardless of fi t. 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 need to adjust their own behaviors to provide this extra level of care. Optimal Infant Care Practices Knowledge of optimal infant care practices has grown out of attachment studies. Two major researchers and teachers of infant care practices were Magda Gerber and Alice S. Honig. Gerber advised parents to slow down, avoid exhaustion, and get to know the baby. She encouraged parents to provide a safe, challenging, and nurturing environment. Within this environment babies become independent by being active participants in routine care, exploring their environments, and having time to play alone. Gerber believed parents should give babies their full attention part of the time rather than half-attention all of the time. Her major point was for parents to live with babies in the moment—“to try less and enjoy it more.” Honig called for close observation of infants in order to provide needed nurturing. Her ideas included • sending emotional signals (admiring eyes, crooning baby’s name, loving tone of voice) so babies know they are cherished • watching for signs of stress and providing nurturance through holding, staying nearby, and talking quietly • creating loving, leisurely rituals for care • knowing milestones and windows of opportunity and then “dancing up and down the developmental ladder” to provide the ability-activity match for babies • helping babies rejoice in their mastery of skills Honig emphasized these loving actions would become part of “body-memory” and nurture a baby’s life journey toward positive relationships. Based on these guidelines, how do you think parents and caregivers can balance maintaining their own health with optimizing the health of their infant? What strategies would you suggest to a parent who is struggling with his or her health and is thus unable to promote an infant’s health? Health Figure 10.11 Newborns are attuned to their caregivers’ feelings and behaviors and may react to expressions of love and expressions of frustration or stress. How can a caregiver avoid upsetting his or her baby when frustrated?