Babies’ behaviour stems from fear.
This fear comes from our evolutionary past.
Babies have an innate knowledge that tells them if they do not keep trusted adults in close proximity, they are at risk of not surviving.
Babies’ fears are not imagined – it is physiological meaning he/she experiences it physically in the body.
So, when you hear your child yelling because you’ve just gone to the kitchen.. or left them on their own.. or with granny or whatever..they start to yell. And that’s the reason why. They are frightened and seeking comfort. The same thing applies when they can’t see you..they seek eye to eye contact. So many babies are put in a pram that faces away from the one trusted adult they know they are exposed to a sea of faces, sounds, movement that they have yet to feel comfortable in.
Understanding how babies and little people’s brains work is a great way to understanding how to develop calm and resilience in your child.
There are so many things that parents just don’t know – it’s not rocket science, it’s just not that well known among ordinary mum and dads who enter parenthood and become responsible for babies who come into the world.
Parents can be stressed out, especially when there are babies who need additional support. Whatever that need might be it’s going to be valuable to know a little more about how your baby might be experiencing the world and how they might be feeling emotionally which in turn is expressed in a behaviour.
You’ll recognise a scenario when you as a mum or dad are not always in the best mood, not always calm. You are perhaps in a state of anxiety and that will be conveyed to your child. We sometimes don’t have enough time, juggling other kids, work, whatever the commitment is for the day. We as adults also experience feelings that are often not in tune to the child’s.
This causes heightened fear and anxiety responses in everybody!
To get to the calm and safe and happy place we all want to be, takes a bit of time. But one thing you can do is learn to breathe.
Just one minute of deliberate breathing can make such a massive difference to your day. Doesn’t cost a penny and you and your children will benefit.
Taking time to slow down and stop and pay attention to the breath coming in and going out of your body will make a difference. It is being mindful. This can be done at any time and where there is not necessarily calm.
There are a number of workshops for families on this very subject being announced for this year.
If you are interested in a virtual session please get in touch and register your interest here.