Elaine

Speech & Language Therapist, interested in Infant Mental Health, Early Development & Neurodiversity. Views my own or borrowed from someone clever. She/ her.

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

Your baby thrives on predictability. 

Specifically, yours. 

This week I’ve been talking about attachment, which holds long lasting consequences for your child’s mental and physical health (not to mention their cognitive development). 

Secure attachments in infancy occur when parents’ interactions with their babies are: 

Warm. 

Responsive.  

Safe. 

And consistently so. 

I’ve shared lots of important tips in the past. Tips on reading to your child. Tips on play. Tips on language development. 

But I want to be clear that attachment has nothing to do with the number of toys or books in your home. Or how well you interact most of the time. 

Attachment is a product of your predictability. It’s how you interact EVERY time. It’s what you teach your child to expect from you as their caregiver.

Inconsistency in the way adults interact with children - warm and responsive one day and potentially cold and distracted the next - is detrimental to secure attachment. When children don’t know what to expect from day to day, it creates anxiety. 

And this activates the body’s stress response systems. Continually. 

This is one reason that it’s so important for parents to thoughtfully manage their own stress, exhaustion, safety, and mental health needs. 

When you aren’t at your best for yourself, you likely won’t be at your best for your baby. 

As an aside, consistency is also why I’ve spoken out about viral social media trends that undermine trust and predictability by inserting chaotic behaviors into the parent-child relationship. 

Several months ago - if you can believe it - it was unexpectedly cracking open an egg on your child’s forehead. 

This week it seems to be throwing slices of American cheese at/onto your baby’s head/face. (I wish I was making this up.)

While it’s easy for us as to dismiss such behaviors as jokes, to young children they are detrimental for precisely the reason some adults may find them funny: they’re unexpected. 

But when your otherwise kind and attentive parent randomly acts with callousness - if even for a moment - it breaks a stable pattern. 

It provides a new data point that suggests you may be warm and caring… but also may not be dependably. And this is precisely what undermines attachment.

(The good news is that an otherwise stable attachment is unlikely to be permanently disrupted by one dumb mistake. We all make them. Still… don’t. Just don’t.) 

Be kind, be responsive, and do it predictably. 

I’ll never share the kind of videos I described above. In their place, enjoy this warm and secure interaction between storyoferica (IG) and her happy little one.

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

Have a new baby - or love someone who does? 

You’ll want to keep a special eye on this space, because this week I’m going to talk about infancy’s most critical outcome and how to achieve it. 

That outcome: Secure attachment. 

The earliest months of life are a busy time developmentally. 

Over a period of just weeks, newborns establish important feeding habits, begin to smile and recognize faces, begin developing early forms of receptive and spoken language…the list goes on and on.

Each of these developments is hugely consequential. But none holds a candle to attachment. 

What is it - and why is it important?

Attachment involves the establishment of deep relational trust between parent and child. 

It’s more than just feeding. 

Or talking. Or playing. 

Securely attached babies develop a deep and abiding trust that you are (and will continue to be) available and responsive as a caregiver. That you can be relied on to meet their needs and ensure their safety. 

And that trust makes a world of difference for children.

Secure attachment is the bedrock of our long-term mental health… a gift you can give your baby with lifelong benefits.

How is it formed? 

Not surprisingly, through consistency.  

Be warm. Be responsive. And be there. 

Over. 

And over. 

And over. 

It’s a big job. (But rest assured it doesn’t require perfection. Parenting is hard enough without that pressure.)

This week I’ll unpack four different types of attachment, how you can improve the quality of your own attachment, and how the development of secure relationships with a small circle of key caregivers (parents, grandparents, teachers) can set your child on a path that will support them even as adults.

This trusting little one was shared to IG by bebegimlemutluyum.

[NHS Lanarkshire @NHSLanarkshire]

Today NHS Lanarkshire is celebrating the #UNCRC becoming law in Scotland. This is a landmark day for babies, children, young people and all who advocate for them. Watch this short video to learn what it means:

https://t.co/8DREgAbmQL

[Brazelton Centre UK @BrazeltonUK]

There's still time to sign up for our free webinar for professionals tomorrow.
Be energised and motivated by the amazing opportunity YOU have to make a positive and long-lasting difference to parent-infant relationships.
Sign up here: https://t.co/yAk13YzFds

[Brazelton Centre UK @BrazeltonUK]

Our third message for #BabyCommunicationWeek24 is one we hope will take away stress and anxiety for new parents. Wanting to do the best for your baby comes from a place of love and care but there's a thing far better (& more realistic) than perfection and that is connection...🩷

[Brazelton Centre UK @BrazeltonUK]

In case you have missed it - we have released a set of 5 new posters for #BabyCommunicationWeek24. Print and pin-up these posters and join with us in spreading the word for parents with newborn babies.
Download here: https://t.co/JkEaXfFiVS...

[Brazelton Centre UK @BrazeltonUK]

🎉POSTERS READY TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT🎉
Get your display boards, information tables and baby rooms ready for celebrating #BabyCommunicationWeek24 and beyond...
Scroll down our Baby Communication Week 2024 webpage to find the link for downloading: https://t.co/AEnxiicqA5

[Brazelton Centre UK @BrazeltonUK]

In a baby lies hope, new starts, endless possibilities and the greatest power for change. This is why for #IMHAW2024 we are supporting the call to 'Speak up for Babies'.
Why not share this with your local politicians?
@first1001days @ParentInfantFdn @AIMH_UK @Earlychildhood

[Blackpool Parent-Infant Relationship Service @BlackpoolPaIRS]

Your baby loves it when you interact and respond to them as you build your special relationship, which is so important for their health, development and happiness as they grow up. It’s never too soon to start communicating with them! @BrazeltonUK #IMHAW2024 #SpeakUpForBabies

[NES Psychology @NES_Psychology]

It's infant mental health awareness week! The @SolihullAproach online course 'Understanding your baby' is a fantastic source of information to help get to know your baby, including understanding baby's brain development and baby's feelings. Visit https://t.co/9wO9CxMRdW to access

[NES Psychology @NES_Psychology]

Those working with children & families 0-5yrs can access our resource to support their learning around mental health and wellbeing. Learning resources have been collated and are easily accessible at https://t.co/uh8i2BK35V
#IMHAW2024

[NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde @NHSGGC]

We're marking Infant Mental Health Week and making sure everyone remembers that wee minds matter.

#IMHAW2024 #speakupforbabies #parentinfantfoundation #infantmentalhealthawarenessweek

[Scot Gov Health @scotgovhealth]

Today @ScotGov & @InspiringSland launched a video on supporting mental health from the early years

📽️ Watch the video ➡️https://t.co/I52iErPj7U

[Elaine @SLTinIMH]

Lunchtime workshops from Wee Minds Matter team this week for #IMHAW24

[Aye Mind @ayemind99]

To mark #IMHAW24, our @nhsggc colleagues from the Infant Mental Health Service Wee Minds Matter are running lunchtime workshops this week.

Mon- Fri, 12.00 pm-12.45 pm. Register below
https://t.co/5GF0ItkH7z

[Together 🧡 @together_sacr]

🎉Tomorrow is #InternationalDayOfPlay

We would like to share our latest Membership Spotlight which is @PlayScotland

The leading organisation in Scotland dedicated to the development & promotion of play for children & young people

Click here: https://t.co/JG6dDGN2Gw

[Elaine @SLTinIMH]

This week is Infant Mental Health Awareness Week #IMHAW2024, reminding us all to Speak Up For Babies. AIMH UK event: https://t.co/wcCqO6yIY1
Free video here and more information: https://t.co/6SD9TIH4q5
@NHSGGCKIDS @LizzyAHP

[Brazelton Centre UK @BrazeltonUK]

The exciting, ambitious, inspirational & multi-layered VISION of #BabyCommunicationWeek!
@BrazeltonUK officially host BCW, setting the dates and theme, but we want this Week to be shared and owned by everyone who can get behind this vision.🤩 Tell us how you'll be celebrating!