Effective Strategies For Helping Babies And Toddlers Overcome Separation Anxiety, Foster Attachment, And Support Brain Development

Gemma, aged 20 months, will be starting in your service soon. It will be your job to look after Gemma and help settle her into the service. Gemma and her mother are coming to visit you this afternoon to meet you and to discuss how best to manage Gemma’s transition.

At the meeting

During Gemma’s first weeks of care

Sleep and rest

Gemma needs to have 8 hours’ sleep daily in the night. It will be best for Gemma to practise sleeping from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The baby should not be allowed to sleep as soon as after having lunch at noon. At least after 30 minutes it will be good to allow the baby in having nap. Carer of the baby needs to pay attention in placing her on their back to sleep at both day and night.

Toilet learning

Gemma is a toddler of 20 months old. It is the high time to train Gemma in letting urinate and potty self independently. The usage of a freestanding potty chair or a step stool is reliable in this reference.

Brain development

Telling stories to Gemma will be effective in exploring strong emotions. It will increase the baby’s skill of listening. On the other hand, usage of vignettes and intellectual toys are highly fruitful in terms of brain development of Gemma. Vignettes help the baby to learn new pattern, illustrating pictures. It is the high time for the baby when she needs to make in discovering new smells, sounds, voices, faces and mood of people.

Physical development

At every afternoon, it will be effective to let Gemma outside of the home in playing with the other toddlers. It is essential for stimulating whole body.

Separation anxiety is common to be happened with the toddlers when they become separated from parents or care giver. After six to eight months, a baby starts to recognise faces and voices of the known people. The age of the babies up to 4 years is very sensitive in suffering in separation anxiety if a baby is separated from his / her one of the loved ones. In this case, it needs to handle the baby very sincerely and sensitively.  A baby feels safe and uncomfortable only with his / her known people. On the other hand, separation from the loved person threatens the emotional security of a child. Sometimes it is seen that in the early years separation leaves a long lasting impact in the memory of child. Sometimes the memory of separation affects the confidence level of a child. Parents and 24 hours’ carer are the most trusted to a child. Hence, if a child see that his / her parents  or his / her familiar carer has good coordination and relationship with a new care giver, the child starts to believe the new person (Prado, E.L. and Dewey, K.G., 2014). Hence, my suggestion is not to let a child to experience sudden separation. Parents and old carer needs to support a child to be accustomed in separation in reducing the time to give a child. On the other hand, new carer should give effort in establishing a good bond with the child so that the child can accept the separation with the old carer or parents.

For the brain development of a child, emotional security plays a major role. A child needs to be loved and cared (Charlesworth 2013). A child needs to receive time from his / her parents. On the other hand, relationship between the parents of a child is highly significant in terms of his / her brain development. A child feels happy in seeing his / her parents together. Unhappy relationship between parents leaves a stress on the mind and brain of a child. Optimal development of a child is destroyed in this case. Healthy behaviours, nutritious food and regular physical activity are essential for the normal development of a child.

Attachment theory gives a concept how the emotional bond is established between a child and primary care giver (Verschueren and Koomen 2012). In developing the behaviour and personality of a child, attachment of a child with primary caregiver is highly significant. As per the attachment theory, primary care giver plays the most influential role in leading a child to comprehend right from wrong. This theory claims that attachment to a person is the question of mental stability and emotional security. For the healthy development of a child, one of the basic needs is to satisfy a child emotionally. An emotionally satisfied child is found as highly confident. On the other hand, attachment of a child with caregiver is significant in terms of growing morale power within a child.  Psychologist, John Bowlby, has coined ‘Attachment theory’. He has claimed that a child at least needs to have one primary giver in terms of healthy childhood development.

For infants and toddlers attachment is not just a feeling; it is a base on which their moral being has been developed. The feeling of attachment plays an important role on the socio emotional development of the child. Based on this feeling a child builds various kinds of relationship at social context. Toddlers and infants need to feel that they are important to family. It is essential to make child loyal and compassionate in order to be engaged in society. Attachment is considered as a reciprocal relationship between a child and a caregiver. A caregiver needs to be concerned in order to fulfil the needs of a baby. Hence, a baby will respond a caregiver with trust and interest. Attachment can be fostered with the expression of love and care in a consistent way (Patterson and Vakili 2014). A baby and toddler are completely depended on adult care for growing up in a healthy way. Caregiver of a child always needs to respond baby’s coos. Then a baby feels that he is lovable and important to the caregiver. In terms of resisting a child from doing anything, a caregiver needs to direct in a gentle tone. Then a baby learns rules and gets familiar with the expectation of caregiver. It helps to set behaviour of a child. Love of a carer encourages an infant to have early education. The child who is treated with anger, he may live in fear. It affects the confidence level of an infant, which resist him in adopting early education successfully.

As per the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Standard (NQS), educators need to ensure belonging, being and becoming a part of children lives and family. Educators need to play a consistent role in terms of widening learning opportunities and skills of a child (Bowlby  and Ainsworth  2013). In addition, the educators also need to pay attention for the well-being of a child. Educators need to develop a social and emotional relationship bonding with a child in terms of leading him in fulfilling long-term goal. In this context, point of evidence is vital to take into account. Considering EYLF framework, the Australian educators believes in vignette based learning style in educating child up to five years. It leads the children in having a strong sense of identity. One of the premium EYLF learning outcomes is energising children in contributing to the world and in engaging in globalisation. It is necessary to notify hereby that EYLF framework is applicable for the all the child in Australia.

Australian Government Department of Education, science and training under Australian Government Department of Education, has developed care for babies. Some of the basic requirements in terms of knowing the cues, routines and preferences for individual infants are notified hereby. Caregiver needs to be patient, gentle and sensitive in order to develop a loyal relationship with individual infants. Infants’ sign of hunger, pain, distress and tiredness is essential to be closely monitored. The physical comfort zone of babies is also necessary to be identified. Cues, routines and preferences for individual babies vary based on the verity of age, cultural background and family setting. It is essential for a caregiver that a baby is having enough rest. Safe sleeping practice is also necessary to take into account in terms of preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (Bajanowski and Vennemann 2017). It is essential to fulfil the needs of the individual infants in a timely manner. Hygiene practice and nutritional needs of the infants needs to take into account in terms of developing a nurturing relationship with the individual infants.

For the babies / the toddlers the  signs of tired are – yawning, grizzling or crying, clinginess, boredom with toys, fussiness with food, constant effort of taking attention.

Grizzling and crying is also considered as the sign of hunger for the toddlers. In this context, it is hard to make difference between hungry grizzling and tired grizzling. It will be better to offer a feed to baby and if he denies, it means that the baby needs rest.

Teething is sign of irritation, trouble sleeping for the toddlers. In the other cases, teething is the sign of drooling, bulging gums and swollen.

Babies give the sign of irritation and try to take attention.

Clinginess, anger, crying and tantrum are the sign of distress for the toddlers.

It means that it is time to bring changes in the food habit of the toddlers. Swallowing saliva is a good sign to understand that a baby is ready to eat solid food.

It is important to fulfil babies’ routines and rituals in order to ensure physical and emotional well being of them.

At the time of baby’s sleeping, it is essential to take care about the physical comfort of a baby. A distressed baby needs to be responded in a sensitive, quick and unrushed way (Prado and Dewey 2014). Caregivers need to offer a feed to babies either caregivers need to hold baby in a gentle way in terms of picking them up or cuddling them. Swigging a baby softly side to side will also be effective in pacifying a child in distress.

Close supervision is necessary to take into account in this reference. It takes time to understand the babies’ cue and languages. Caregivers need to consider in responding toddlers in gentle, unrushed and quick way. Timely feeding and nappy changing are vital in order to develop an attachment with the babies. In 2013, in Australia, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) caused death of 117 numbers of babies (Engelke, Schub  and Pravikoff  2015). In order to prevent SIDS, the babies needs to place on their back in terms of lying down (Bajanowski  and Vennemann  2017). Constant interaction and nurturing behaviour with babies and toddlers are the basic ways in order to provide routinely support to the toddlers and babies in terms of language, social and physical skills.

What are three things that are shown in the photo which are designed to reduce the risk of SIDS?

Source: SIDS and kids https://www.sidsandkids.org/safe-sleeping/

1. Breast feed protects the babies from the chronic diseases such as type 1 diabetes, celiac disease.

2. Breast feeding minimises babies’ risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

3. Breastfeed prevents a baby to be obese.

4. Breast feeding is the best way to establish attachment between mother and babies.

1.  Child care needs to consider the formula of preparing and storing breast milk from the mother who does not want to discontinue breastfeeding.

2. In childcare, there should have a quiet and comfortable space in order to allow willing mothers for breast-feeding their children.

3. Child carers need to be positive about the babies’ mother who wants to leave breast milk for their babies.

Breastfeeding plays an important role in order to fulfil the nutritional needs of the babies. Breastfeeding creates a special bonding between mother and babies. Breast-feeding protects the babies from chronic diseases, infections, allergies and teething problem. In those cases, mothers are not capable to feed their babies breast milk, for them the alternative option is formula feeding. Formula feeding is a great supplement to breast-feeding. Some mothers worry that if she cannot feed their babies breast milk, she will not able to develop a bond with their babies. However, a caring mother always has a special bond with their babies. Formula provides necessary nutrients to the babies in order to grow and healthy.  From the skimmed cows’ milk, infants’ formula is prepared.

It is effective in order to make a good food habit of the babies. In order to automate the appetite of the babies timely, it is recommended to give bottles only when it is mealtime.

Between parents and caregivers, there should have a trustful relationship. Sharing information with the parents is essential part in order to develop a relationship bond. Carer can make phone call to parents and keep them informed if their baby has had their lunch or not. It is important to draw the awareness of parents in terms of child’s development and wellbeing.

After six months, in order to accomplish the nutritional needs of the babies, breast feeding and formula feeding is not enough. At 4 or 6 months of the babies, it is essential to initiate in feeding babies solid food. Introducing solid food is important in order to lead a child to practice chewing. In addition, in order to develop the digestive power of the babies also, introducing solid food is necessary at the age of six months of them.

Breastfeeding and formula feeding is the best in terms of fulfilling nutritional needs of the babies up to six months. According to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, scientific evidence is priority in order to take decision about the types and amounts of foods, food groups and dietary patters in considering the individual nutritional needs of the babies. Australian Dietary Guidelines and National Health and Medical Research Council Guidelines aim to promote health well being, mitigating the risk of diet-related conditions and redressing the risk of chronic diseases for the babies.

As per the Australian Dietary Guidelines, at the age of 6 – 12 months of the babies it is essential to feed the babies solid food in terms of developing their digestive power. In addition, in order to maintain appropriate healthy weight of the babies at six months of age, feeding them solid food is badly necessary. At 6 to 12 months of age, solid food has no exception in order to promote the well-being of the babies.  

Food Group

1 – 2 years

Vegetables and legumes/beans.

Beans, peas, lentils, dark green leafy vegetablesm avocado

Fruit.

Pears, peaches and apples

Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain.

Cooked cereal, cooked pasta, cooked rice or 1 slice of bread

Lean meat and poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds, and legumes/beans.

1 ounce of meat, poultry or fish, or 1 egg, ¼ cup cooked dry beans

Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives (mostly reduced fat).

1 cup of milk  or yogurt, 1&1/2 ounces of natural cheese or 2 ounces of processed cheese

Approx. number of additional serves from the five food groups or discretionary choices.

Meat, poultry, fish, enriched grains beans, tofu, tomatoes, broccoli, strawberries, oranges, iron fortified cereal

1. Regular brushing after erupting first teeth completely

2. Using Fluoridated  toothpaste and drinking water

3. limiting to feed sugary food and drink to the babies

Honey contains Clostridium botulinum, which affect s immature digestive system of a baby. It causes infant botulism, a fatal illness.

1. Maintain adequate frequency of feeding food so that saliva get time to washes away acid from the teeth and replaces minerals in teeth (Zarco et al. 2012).

2. Regular brushing teeth with soft bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste (Charlesworth  2013)

3. Do not leave a child in his bed with a bottle containing anything other than water

As per National Quality Standard (NQS), there are 7 key quality areas in terms of growth and development of the children. These are – Educational program and practise, Children’s health and safety, physical environment, staffing arrangements, relationships with children, collaborative partnerships with families and communities, leadership and service management. The quality areas, relationship with children has been chosen to explain in this context. Emotional security is more important than material security in terms of growth and development of the toddlers or babies. In order to let a toddler to feel emotional secure, it is essential to maintain lovable and caring relationship with the toddlers (Verschueren and Koomen 2012). A toddler needs to have at least one primary care giver. Significant engagement of the toddlers with the educators is necessary to take into account in this context. Moreover, with a child it is necessary always to have positive interaction. It boosts confidence and morale power of the toddlers.

Age of child

Physical Activity Recommendations

Examples of suitable activity that can be offered

Birth to one year

· Whole body movement

· Pull self to standing position when hands held

· Raises self to sitting position

· Plays with feet and toes

Floor based play in safe environments

one – 2 years

Walks, climb and runs

· Ball playing on the clean and safe floor

· Dances in place to music

Task/Equipment

Safety Considerations

Feeding

· Maintain adequate frequency of feeding

· Don’t let babies to suckle too much above necessity

· In the case of formula feed, bottle needs to be sterilised, neat and clean

Cot, sleeping area, bedding

· Safe mattress

· Safe bedding

· Safe cot

Safe sleep practices

· Let baby to sleep on the back from the birth

· Keep baby smoke free before birth and after

· Do not keep baby’s head and face covered

Nappy changing

Soiled nappy causes skin rash and irritation of the babies. Therefore nappy of the baby needs to checked and changed timely.

Toys, dummies, teething rings

· Toys needs to be safe, durable and washable

· Furry toy is not reliable for the babies as they can suck and swallow the furs.

· Dummy needs not t have ribbons, chains

· Dummy should have holes in order to remove quickly in emergency condition.

· A number of teething ring contains harmful chemicals, which needs to be avoided.

1. After waking up, caregiver needs to talk with the baby in a soft and unhurried voice. At this time, giving baby a soft and caring hug for long will be the most effective.  

2. At the mealtime in order to feed babies, it will be best to tell a story with full of expressions.

3. In order to let a baby to sleep, singing in soft voice is considered as the most effective interaction.

1. Copy cat

2. Tickle songs

3. Chatter box

Child name

Wake up time

6 a.m.

Morning Bottle

7 a.m.

Lunch Bottle

12 p.m.

Afternoon bottle

4 p.m.

Dinner bottle

9 p.m.

Toddler name

Wake up time

6 a.m.

Morning bottle

7 a.m.

Lunch bottle

12.30 p.m.

Afternoon bottle

4.30 p.m.

Dinner bottle

9.30 p.m.

1. Safe mattress

2. Safe cot

3. Hygiene

4. Nappy

5. Sleeping posture of a baby

6. Blanket (Blanket should be tucked in no higher than their shoulders.)

7. Baby room temperature

After 18 months of age, maximum parents prefer to give toilet training to their babies. Some signs help you to comprehend if a child is ready to have toilet training or not. Seven signs are depicted below.

· Change in toilet habits

· Regular bowel movements

· When baby is able to pull their pants up and down

· When baby shows interest in going toilet in seeing others

· When the child is able to tell about their dirty nappy

· When the child able to follow instructions

· When a child shows irritation about wet nappy

It is important to notify hereby that the parents or caregivers not to initiate to give actual toilet training to the babies until they are ready.  

· Age of toddler

· Gender of toddler

· Privacy

· Particular needs of the toddler

· Hygiene of bathroom areas

· Emotion of an individual toddler

· Caregiver needs to consider in keeping the nappy changing and toileting procedure of the baby low key with a minimum of fuss.

· The timing of bowel movements of an individual child is necessary to take into account.

· Bright colors are effective in order to keep the toddlers more alert, when dark colors are considered more calming to the toddlers (Prado and Dewey 2014).

· Novelty keeps the toddler’s brain to be more alert. Toys of toddlers need to be changed frequently in terms of brain stimulating.

I would like to explain to the mother why the child is attached to the small doll. In the absence of parents, toddlers feel insecurity. The toddler might miss her parents also. In that case, a toddler develops attachments to comfort items such as dolls, teddy bears, dummies and blankets. Hence, I would suggest the mother to appoint a caregiver in the absence of her and her husband.

I would like to inform Juliette’s father that he does not interact with her child in hurry. He should be bothered in knowing everything associated with Juliette. He and his wife both need to care about the mood of Juliette. If he feels trouble in settling his baby, I would like to suggest him to bring a comfort item for her toddler. It is hoped that it will be effective in terms of settling Juliette.

Sharing information with the educator is a wise decision (Verschueren and Koomen 2012). Molly’s parents let her educator to know in the way Molly prefers to lay asleep. They also informed her educator the signs of Molly’s sleepiness. The educator, Sue provides constant care in order to monitor Molly in terms of changing her nappy or recognizing her sleepiness. The educator also considers in signing Molly’s favorite song in terms of settling Molly in sleep. The caregiver takes time in order to change the nappy of Molly. In addition, the person provides perfect affection to Molly and interacts with her softly. The educator considers all those things to do with which Molly is accustomed. Hence, the educator has appropriate sense of belonging for all children.

Environment matters a lot in order to develop new skills of the toddlers. Individual needs of the toddlers are also necessary to take into account in this reference (Prado, E.L. and Dewey, K.G., 2014). The educator of Ben follows which technique in order to train Bain about hand wash, is justified. Showing the picture about all the steps of washing hands creates an environment in which Ben feel energizes to wash his hand self dependently. Similarly, in order to set Ben to sleep, the educator of Ben needs to consider an environment with dim lighting, safe and comfortable bedding, and relaxing music.

The educator Jill is  an excellent care giver. In order to train the toddlers she believes in practical application. Her strategy was to let Eva and Anna to wash a dummy. Thus the two toddlers get to know how to take bath in the most efefctive way. On the other hand, her unique startegy was to let the child in observing how a parent had bathed and breast-fed her new baby. She was also seen to interact with the babies in a soft and lovable tone.