Printer-friendly PDFThis Early Learning Moment provides an overview of the Newborn Period as explained in Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age 3. The newborn period, birth to four months, is a time when parents and caregivers are working very hard to learn their infant’s signals and respond to his or her needs. Infants depend exclusively on soothing and appropriate responses from their caregivers in order to thrive and develop.
Setting Up for Success
In this video, we learned how adults can nurture children during the newborn period for healthy development and strong bonds with their caregivers.
Self-Assessment and Reflection
This video presented examples of how adults can nurture a child during the newborn period. Now, consider your interactions with newborns and how you might keep them safe and healthy so they can have a strong start:
Does your space have:
- Places where a newborn can safely lie or be held and watch his world?
- An adult-sized rocking chair, swing, or space for a caregiver to rock, bounce, or snuggle while holding a fussy newborn?
- Ways to adjust stimulation such as lights, sound, and activity levels to meet a child’s cues?
Are you ready to:
- Observe and follow a newborn’s cues by changing the environment or your actions to help them move from quiet wakefulness, through fussy times, and into rest?
- Talk, sing, and even read to a newborn to provide stimulation and very early language experiences?
- Care for your needs and reach out for assistance from other caregivers if a fussy newborn becomes overwhelming?
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