3 Critical Needs for Newborns By Lynne Blythe hen parents are anticipating the birth of a baby, they often plan on what they will do to ensure their newest family member will have the best chance to grow and develop to their fullest capacity. Some parents will focus on buying educational toys and are attentive to diet and nutrition. Other parents will carefully research cribs and strollers and safetyproof all rooms in the home. The aforementioned items are all worthy of careful consideration and action. But newborn infants have three critical needs that can be met without spending any money or buying any equipment. Infants need loving touch, someone to talk to them, and regular faceto-face engagement to support growth and development. Loving Touch Skin is the largest organ of the human body, and babies learn through loving touch from their caregivers. Many hospitals quickly place newborns directly in their mother’s embrace, establishing skin-to-skin contact within the first seconds of life. The loving touch experienced by the infant not only provides a sense of security but provides the stimulation needed for brain growth and development. Talking to Infant Even before babies are born, W they become familiar with the sounds, rhythms and cadences of their familys’s voices. Infants need to hear real, live voices. When someone talks or sings to them, their brains are stimulated to build more neural connections. Dr. Susan Werner, MD, a local pediatrician, tells of the “shock and awe” of the delivery of a newborn: “Babies must feel they were shot out a cannon on Mars! In the midst of this brilliantly lit, cold, noisy environment, they hear the melody of mother’s voice, and this connects them to the anchor that is family.” Face-to-Face Engagement Infants are born needing to connect with their family members. Loving relationships are more than a series of interactions, and it is critical to an infant’s development to establish a connection with a caring, responsive caregiver. Whenever distractions of the day (TV, phone, and computer) are turned off in order to respond to the infant’s needs for food, comfort, or loving care, the infant receives faceto-face engagement that helps to develop emotional resilience and social connectedness. Establishing a nurturing and responsive relationship gives infants protection from other possible negative life experiences in the future. They develop a strong sense of self, secure in the knowledge that they are loved and cherished. Infants need nurturing and responsive relationships within the context of a family, culture, and community to help them to grow and develop to their fullest capacity. Loving touch, having someone to talk to them, and face-to-face engagement are the first keys to a great start to life. Providing these three critical needs at the start of an infant’s life does not require money or special equipment. Once given and experienced, it is theirs forever! If you have questions or concerns about your child’s development, please contact your child’s pediatrician, nurse practitioner, or family physician to discuss your concerns. They will be able to answer your questions and connect you to other supports, if needed, such as your local early intervention program (www.infantva.org) or behavioral health professionals. Lynne Blythe is the Program Manager of the Infant & Toddler Connection of Rappahannock Rapidan. 2013 • Issue 4 Piedmont Family Magazine 23