EMOTIONALLY SPEAKING!

Your baby’s emotions can be overwhelming. we show you how to help him understand them…

From the first eye contact to toddler tantrums, your baby’s emotions and social skills will develop at an astonishing rate. Dealing with tricky issues such as sharing toys or separation from you can be tough, so here we tell you how to handle the ups – and downs – of your little one’s emotions

NEWBORN - GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Your close bond with your baby is integral to his development as it’s the first emotional connection he’ll feel. “The bond starts immediately after birth when you hold your baby. He feels secure and contained, just like when he was in the womb. The bond then grows through touch, eye contact and mirroring,” says Claire Halsey, UK-based child psychologist and author of Your Child Year By Year. At three to six months, more faces will enter your baby’s circle, as he gets to know his siblings, cousins or grandparents. At this age your baby begins to enjoy socialising with others and has a strong interest in looking at human faces. He’s also learning how actions, such as smiling or crying, will give rise to emotional reactions from others. This will be stored in his memory for reuse.

TRY THIS While everyone talks about the importance of the mother-baby bond, it’s vital dad gets a look-in, too, as he’s a key player in building your baby’s emotional confidence. ‘Your baby soon knows the smell of your breastmilk so get dad to have some skin-toskin time so he becomes familiar with his smell too,’ adds Claire.

8 MONTHS - I WANT MUMMY!