Your baby has something they would like to tell you
To one of the most important people in my world....my Daddy
We're at the start of an amazing journey. The time we put in now will pay off for the rest of my life. Along the way, I’ll need lots of different experiences to help my brain and body grow.
When you gently rock or dance with me, I learn about touch, my body, and movement.
When you talk, sing, and read to me, I’m comforted by your voice. I’ll learn about sounds, rhythm, and language. I can’t talk yet, so as I grow, please keep trying to see the world through my eyes. I’ll do my best to tell you what I need and how I feel with my body and face. If I turn away, it might mean I need a break or sleep. I’m not rejecting you.
I’m going to achieve a lot on this journey, and you will want to take photographs to remember these moments. But please put your phone away afterwards because I love to see your face.
I love it when you’re interested in exploring my world with me. When I’m in danger, I need you to protect me. I learn a lot through playing. Keep watching me so you know when I’ve had enough. If I cry, I might be uncomfortable, hurt, afraid, or not sure how to deal with my big feelings.
I’m never upset with you or trying to make you angry. Try to stay calm and comfort me. Sometimes it might help to distract me, but mostly it helps to just hold me, so I feel safe and comforted. As I grow, I’ll get better at calming myself, but I need to know I can always come back to you and feel safe again. That’s how I’ll get confident exploring and learning.
My daily routine doesn’t need to be strict. It’s just nice if the same kind of things happen around the same time each day.
Sometimes you might feel like things are getting on top of you, but there’s lots of support out there. Try not to worry if all the different advice is confusing. It’s going to take time and patience to work out what’s best for us, but I know we can get through it together. Before you know it, I won’t be little anymore, so slow down with me; make time for us.
We’ve got this.
