Let babies kick and stretch freely on their tummies and backs.
Encourage babies to explore the space near them by putting interesting things beside them, such as crinkly paper, or light, soft material.
Give babies the experience of lying in different positions, for example, lying on their backs or on their tummies (while you are with them), sitting propped up and lying on their sides. Moving in different positions will make babies aware of the muscles in different parts of their body.
Move babies' arms and legs around when playing to give them an awareness of movement.
Lifting or turning the head is one of the first controlled movements that babies make. Encourage babies to lift their heads while lying on their tummies by:
– talking to them from in front and above with your face close to theirs;
– tickling or kissing them under their chins. Some babies find it easier to lift their heads if their arms are brought forward;
– tickling or gently massaging the muscles on the back of their necks and upper bodies;
– placing an activity mat or textured blanket underneath their chests.
Encourage babies to turn their heads to each side by:
– talking to them from different positions and taking their hands to your face;
– varying the side you carry the babies on and encouraging them to turn towards your face and voice.
Motivate babies to hold their head up while being carried upright at your shoulder by having someone behind talking to them or shaking a rattle to attract their attention.
Gently massage babies to help them become more aware of their bodies.
From two or three weeks of age, you can give babies an experience of movement in space by rocking them to give them a sense of motion in your arms or by carrying them in a sling so they experience your movement.
As head and neck control becomes established, lifting babies through the air helps them develop their sense of position in space.
Give babies the experience of lying on different surfaces, for example, on a soft bed and on a firmer floor.
Health and Bodily Awareness
Talk to parents about the feeding patterns of young babies.
Talk to young babies as you stroke their cheeks, or pat their backs, reminding them that you are there and they are safe.
Discuss the cultural needs and expectations for skin and hair care with parents prior to entry to the setting, ensuring that the needs of all children are met appropriately and that parents' wishes are respected.
Feeding:
While holding a baby, introduce the teat of the bottle across the baby's cheek. This helps them to prepare for something coming towards their mouth. Young babies automatically turn to the side that has been stimulated. Let the teat rest gently on the baby's lips so that they can smell and taste the first drop of milk. Pause until the baby opens their mouth.
Let babies know you are about to feed them by using consistent actions. Pause and wait to see if babies begin to anticipate the bottle by opening their mouths before the teat touches their lips.
Later, say something like "milk time" and let them see you shaking the bottle when you're getting ready.
When using a bottle, guide both of a baby's hands to hold the bottle when drinking. Gradually reduce the amount of support you give until they can support it independently. This also encourages their hands to work together. Bottles are easier to handle when not too full.
When you begin spoon-feeding, use a plastic spoon with an easy grip. As babies begin to be able to grasp objects, let them hold a spoon and play with it, even when not feeding.
Before you start, make sure you and the baby are comfortable and that you have everything you need to hand, for example, bib, cloths and kitchen paper. It's easier for babies to swallow in a sitting position, so sit with them on your knee if they have stable head control, or in a baby chair with enough support.
Let babies have enough time to take the food off the spoon with their lips and palate so that they're in control of the speed of feeding until they become confident about feeding from a spoon.
At first, babies push food out of their mouths, but with experience, they learn to swallow in a more co-ordinated way. They often splutter, spit or gag on food, but keep offering it in a calm and encouraging way. Try to leave a drop on their lips so that they have a taste of the food being offered.
Make sure that all caregivers in your setting who feed children use the same approach.
Washing:
Make washing routines as calm and cosy as possible. It's a time when you can awaken babies' sense of smell as well as awareness of their bodies. Use pleasant smelling baby bath products, and gently massage their skin using oils or lotions.
Changing nappies:
Lie babies on a familiar surface such as a changing mat, soft towel or rug to change their nappies. This will help to build up a sense of security and routine.
Make the routine pleasant and fun. Keep babies warm and comfortable. Change clothes and nappies in an unhurried way while gently talking to them about what you're doing.
Follow the same sequence every time you remove or put on clothes to help babies anticipate what's going to happen next. Keep routines pleasant and unhurried so that babies enjoy these times with you.
Sleeping:
Newborn babies' body clocks do not distinguish between day and night and are initially dependent on feeding routines. Longer periods of sleep come more easily as the result of familiar routines that stimulate babies during the day and are more calming at night.
Try to tire babies during the day by being active and stimulating when they're awake, so that they begin to establish regular sleeping patterns at night.
Use a calm and consistent routine to settle babies down for a nap during the day.
Using Equipment and Materials
Play games, such as offering a small toy and taking it again to rattle, or sail through the air.
Encourage young babies in their efforts to gradually share control of the bottle with you.
Hang toys from a 'baby gym' frame just above babies' hands or legs so that they make accidental contact with the toys with their hands and feet when they move. Later, help them to pat and swipe the toys so that they start to do this by themselves.
Encourage babies to naturally feel and experience the different textures they come into contact with during their everyday routines, for example, different mats, fleecy blankets, a wet sponge, a dry towel, their milk bottle. As babies discover their hands, they will start to finger familiar objects that they encounter, such as your bangle or a soft rattle in their cot.
Bring a baby's hands together to encourage mutual finger play and to make them aware they have two hands.
When babies' hands lie open, touch your finger on their finger tips (palm side). They will soon learn to curl their fingers deliberately around your finger and to hold it.
Lie babies on their backs in cots or on the floor. Offer them a toy on their tummies or chests and help them to find and explore it with both hands. This is a helpful first step in finding objects.
Help babies reach out to grasp sound-making and other toys.
Provide plenty of opportunities to find out about different toys, by shaking a rattle, squeezing a squeaker, or ringing a bell. Use toys that are small and light enough for babies to hold and explore comfortably.
Help babies to explore a flat surface and pat their hands on it, making a sound. Later, play clapping games to help them discover their hands.
Encourage two-handed reach and play by offering babies their milk bottles, inviting them to reach and grasp with both hands.
Give babies opportunities to feel toys with smaller parts such as teething rings to help develop their finger movements.
Give babies ring rattles to hold with both hands and then transfer the toy from one hand to the other.
Help babies to bang toys that make a sound or that produce a musical sound when a large key or button is pushed. Show them what happens when they press the button.
Introduce finger games or rhymes such as 'This Little Piggy' or 'Tom Thumb' to help increase awareness of their hands and fingers.
Place a cube on a table or tray surface. Guide the babies' hands along the surface until their first (index) or second finger touches the cube. Then let them pick it up. At first, they may scoop it into the palm, but gradually, they'll start to use their thumb when grasping.
Acknowledgements
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