Looking after their needs
Bringing a new baby into the house can be a whirlwind experience. It feels like there’s so much to remember and getting into a rhythm can take a while. The first few weeks might fly by in a daze as you get to grips with their sleeping pattern. But even at this early stage it’s important for you to get to know each other.
By taking the time to engage with your baby you’re helping lay the foundations that will make them grow into a happy person. Even though your baby can’t understand the words you say, they understand your tone. By talking to them in a calm and warm way they will feel connected to you and cared for. This has important long term benefits and will help your child grow into a confident, trusted and resilient little person.
You can find songs and rhymes to suit different moods or times of day in the Scottish Book Trust’s Bookbug Library, as well as ideas for how to use them with babies, toddlers and 3-5 year olds. Or you could download Bookbug's songs and rhymes app so you’ll always have songs on demand on your phone!
Friends and family
Attention from friends and family is also important. Being connected to a wider group can also help underpin how safe and cared for your child feels. For older infants and toddlers video calls with grandparents could help, and meeting up outside with aunts, uncles, cousins and friends will have benefits as well.