Safety and Care

CARE FOR BABIES

CUES

Overview

This slide show will provide information on supporting

infants / babies emotional care needs and responding to
cues which include:

Tiredness

Anger

Pain

Hunger

It will also provide information relating to temperament

and personality differences. As educators we need to be
tuned in to babies different ways of expressing their
emotions to ensure we are meeting their emotional care
needs.

Cues and needs

Infants cues and needs are met by the way we

respond to them in their first two years of life,
which can influence their ability to form trusting
relationships for the rest of their life.

NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS

Quality Area 5: Relationships with children

This quality area of the National Quality Standard focuses on

relationships with children being responsive and respectful and
promoting childrens sense of security and belonging.

Relationships of this kind free children to explore the environment

and engage in play and learning.

Standard 5.1

Respectful and equitable relationships are developed and

maintained with each child.

Element 5.1.1

Interactions with each child are warm and responsive and build
trusting relationships.

Source Acecqa.gov

NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS

Assessors may observe:

predictable personal-care routines that are rich and enjoyable experiences for
babies and toddlers

Assessors may discuss how:

educators and co-ordinators learn about babies and toddlers non-verbal cues
and communication strategies

staffing and grouping arrangements within a centre-based service support the

development of trusting relationships between educators and babies and
toddlers.

Assessors may sight:

the services policy on interactions with children

evidence that planned and spontaneous experiences and routines provide

opportunities for children to engage in meaningful conversations with
educators and co-ordinators.

Source- Acecqa.gov

Familiar infant cues

Cue

Possible Meaning

Gurgling

-Content

Laughing

-Happy

Pointing

-Needing/wanting something

Fidgeting

-Restlessness

Grizzling

-Unhappy/uncomfortable

Smiling

-Pleasure/content

Sobbing

-Distressed, hurt

Crying
hurt

-Hunger, uncomfortable, lonely,

Familiar infant cues

Cue

Possible Meaning

Wriggling

Uncomfortable
Screaming
pain, hunger
Turning Head away
Distaste
Throwing themselves on the floor
Anger
Throwing items across the room
Screwing

up face
Distaste, anger
Staring hard at something
-Unsure, anxious

Source Image Google

- pain
- Anger,
- Anger
-

Understanding Cues

Hunger Cues:
A quick, calm and reassuring response from the
caregiver teaches the child to trust.
Anticipate when an infant is likely to feel hungry
Ensure the feed is ready and waiting for them
ensure the hungry cry is dealt with immediately.

Source Image Google

Understanding Cues

Anger Cues:
Infants begin to demonstrate recognisable outbursts of anger from
about four to six months.
Anger is about developing a sense of power and control.
Infants express anger:

When a toy is taken away from them

When they are held and want to get down

When they are stopped from doing something they want to

When the caregivers leave the room for a period of time

When they are put down for a sleep but want to stay awake

Source Image Google

Responding to infants anger cues:

When responding to infants anger cues

an educator can:

Acknowledge the infants rights to be angry

Prevent the cause of anger if possible

Provide comfort while allowing the infant to

cry

Encourage toddlers to verbalise their anger

and to take part in energetic activities

Tiredness Cues

INFANTS 0-12MTHS

pulling at ears

closing fists

fluttering eyelids

jerky arm and leg movements

OLDER BABIES / TODDLERS

clumsiness

clinginess

yawning

grizzling

a worried look on your childs face

arching backwards

crying

difficulty focusing (your child might

even go cross-eyed)

demands for constant

attention

sucking on fingers

boredom with toys

fussiness with food.

Source Image Google

Responding to tiredness cues

Respond

quickly to early signs of tiredness

Follow the individuals routine and rituals
Some infants need to be rocked, patted or
rubbed gently on their backs
Some babies have a bottle or breast feed
before sleep
Others prefer to be placed in their cots and
fall asleep on their own
Respond in a calm and relaxed way to
settle the infant/toddler into a sleep,
having everything ready before hand

Pain cues

It is important that the educator responds

quickly to any crying baby:
It is common for very young infants to respond
in a high-pitched stressful cry.
Infants in pain will cry vigorously for about half
a minute to a minute
If the child continues to scream or cry strongly
for time after the incident, then they should be
referred to a medical practitioner
Infants experiencing great pain may also go
into shock and not cry out at all

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

Every child has a different personality and way of

responding to other people.

Children have different temperaments and dispositions.

From birth, each child will display their own unique

temperament.

Source Image Google

Temperament is based on 3 key elements

1.

Emotionality Is the tendency to be

distressed, displaying either fear or anger.

2.

Sociability - refers to the tendency to

prefer the company of others rather than
be alone.

3.

Activity Level - is the tendency to be

active, with high energy levels, always on
the move, or display low levels of activity
and a placid nature

TEMPERAMENT TYPES

1.

Easy regularity of eating, sleeping, toileting; positive

response to new people and situations; positive moods
mostly; emotional expression moderate; quick to
establish new routines

2.

Difficult irregular patterns of eating, sleeping,

toileting; high energy level; negative response to new
people and new situations; mood swings; emotional
expression high, reacts negatively and cries frequently.

3.

Slow to Warm regularity of eating, sleeping and

toileting; somewhat negative to new situations and
people; adapts poorly to change in routines; low
intensity of emotional expressions

EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF BABIES

The emotional needs of babies and all children are

universal they need warm, caring and nurturing
environments where trusted adults treat them with
dignity and respect.

They need educators who understand that children

need consistent, long-term guidance and support to
become emotionally healthy human beings.

They need educators who understand child

development and are aware that children do not
think in the same way as adults, nor do they have
the same understandings about the world around
them

Emotional needs for babies

Depending on the age and temperament of

the child, they may experience several
emotions in a very short space of time.

They may laugh, cry, express anger, fear or

joy, all within the space of a few minutes!

This roller coaster of emotions requires

carers who understand that childrens
emotions are usually short-lived and they
will quickly move on if supported to do so .

Emotional distress

Babies and Toddlers emotional distress can manifest in a

number of ways depending on the childs age, temperament and
the individual circumstances.
Common manifestations of emotional distress include:

Withdrawal

Outbursts of anger

Rejecting comforting

Crying or sobbing

Behaving out of character eg an exuberant child becomes

quiet

SUPPORTIVE RESPONSES BY
EDUCATORS

acknowledging an infants/babys feelings (eg. You seem cranky

Sam, perhaps youre tired now?)

rocking, patting gently and soothing behaviours

singing and talking with baby

providing food/ drinks

changing the babys nappy

providing baby with their special comforter if appropriate (eg.

Dummy, blanket, bear)

cuddling

administering first aid such as an ice pack (if tolerated) for injury

a quiet break (such as a walk outside)

finding a duplicate toy if one has been taken

ACTIVITY: Respond to cues and needs of Babies/Infants

References

www.acecqa.gov.au