How do babies learn

You may feel that all your baby does is eat , sleep ,cry and soil her   diapers. However your baby is learning too. She can see and hear what is going on around her. She can also communicate her needs to others. As parents you can help your baby learn by playing with them.

Infants are able  to see faces and objects of different shapes, size and color. They can tell the difference between the voice of  their parents and that of others. Infants come into the world able to suck, communicate their needs by crying and sometimes calm down on their own. Most babies can do all these things as soon as they are born.

You are your baby’s first teacher

First experiences have a great deal of impact on your child’s future.  That is why you are so important in your child’s growth and development. The care and experience you provide is keen in the growth of your baby’s brain. When you love and care for your child, the new brain cells connect in ways that help the infant

• feel secure and confident
• make sense of new ideas and information
• grow healthy bodies

Things you need to watch out for

Your baby will have a different personality from others. It’s good to get to know  your baby’s likes, abilities and needs.

• some infants like more activities, some less
• some infants are quiet in nature while others are loud when they cry or laugh

Babies will let you know when they’ve had enough. Some of the ways  a baby will let you know she’s had enough include the following :

• becomes sleep
• fuss or cry a lot
• avoid eye contact
• rubs eyes
• coughs or spits

How to take care of yourself

Children grow faster in the first year than any other time of their lives. You need to take care of yourself to stay healthy and happy for your child.  Caring for your child requires a lot of time and energy. When you feel happy about yourself, you child feels happy and secure too. Get help if you need it. You need enough rest so that you have more energy to be able to enjoy your baby.

Other people who care for your baby

You need to develop strong bonds with your parents and other family members. This will help infants form a positive relationship with others.

• you can help your child relate better with other people by letting others hold and talk to your infant when you are around
• you need to get the same few trusted caregivers to care for your child when you are unavailable. This will help your baby learn to expect and enjoy their company and kindness
• if you leave your baby with a relative, friend or a professional caregiver, you need to make sure that the caregiver’s surroundings provide adequate healthy , safe and comforting environment.