Affirmations to Help Your Infant Learn About BEING and TRUST
"If your baby is 'beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time,' you're the grandma."
— Theresa Bloomingdale
The developmental task of all new babies is to trust that the world will support them, to know they are welcome in the family, and to learn that simply "being" in the world is important. With recent research on the brain, we know that bonding at this stage can set the foundation for the rest of the child's life. When parents recognize what their child needs at this first stage of growth, they can give them the affirmations on which to build a solid foundation.
Of course, when we speak of "affirmations" for infants, we don't particularly mean words, although even very young children can recognize their mothers voice at birth. [see How You Can Shape Your Child's Brain and Shape the World] Nevertheless, you may wonder how affirmations apply to an infant since a newborn hasn't learned a language yet. But the messages parents and others give to newborns aren't expressed only in words. Babies learn it is their right to be in the world and to have their needs taken care of when their caregivers bond with them emotionally and gently nurture them with touch and loving care. That is why a soothing tone of voice is as important for an infant as the verbal encouragement offered a toddler who is afraid to go down a slide.
Every time you gently hold a baby who has been fussing, you are teaching her that the world is a safe place to be. Every time you feed her when she has been crying, you are teaching her that she can get her needs met by letting others know what she wants. When you respond to her needs quickly and sensitively, she gradually learns how to comfort herself. When you talk with her as you change her diaper or put her in the car seat, you build on the language capacity her brain is programmed to develop.
Affirmations needed by all babies from birth to six months of age—and by everyone else as well:
We're glad you're here, because this is where you belong.
We love holding you and having you near us.
We will provide what you need because your needs are important to us.
You can take your time to grow up at your own pace.
We cherish you because you are a gift to the world.
We will dream great dreams for you.
Now that you know the importance of "affirmations" for this stage, be sure to read Putting Affirmations for Your Infant into Practice. By using those suggestions, you will be laying a firm foundation for your child's emotional, physical, and mental growth throughout life.
One final comment. While all children move from one stage of growth to another, they do so at different rates. This is particularly true of the early years when progress is measured in weeks and months rather than years. Therefore, even though the Childhood Affirmation Program breaks down the first three years into three stages, your child may enter or leave a stage sooner or later than another child and be perfectly okay. That is why some of the resources suggested for one stage will be true for children of a different age and are listed in more than one stage.
SIDEBAR TO ABOVE ARTICLE:
Help for Busy Parents
The Magic of Everyday Moments® Campaign, is a program developed in partnership by ZERO TO THREE and the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute. It is designed to help you and other caregivers understand how to use simple, everyday moments to promote your child's social, emotional, and intellectual development.
Recognizing that many parents today are challenged in caring for an infant while also taking care of other responsibilities. The material they provide shows you many ways to use the normal activities of feeding, bathing, and grocery shopping to enjoy and bond with this new member of your family.
Through very simple, ordinary interactions you will encourage his development and build his:
self-confidence
curiosity
social skills
self-control
communication skills
Incidentally, my grandson didn't agree with one of their pieces of advice about talking with your infant. They say:
"Be attentive to what kind of sounds your baby likes best. Some infants love music with strong beats, while others prefer softer melodies. And don't be shy about singing. No matter how in or out of tune, she'll like your voice best of all."
A few years ago my daughter was changing her six-week-old daughter and trying to keep everyone happy by singing. Even though she was giving a cheerful rendition of “Supercalifragilistic," the baby continued crying. Finally, her three-year-old son ventured, “Excuse me, Mommy, but she hates that.”