Early Infancy: Translation to the Clinical Setting

Share with parents at the first visits that their baby already recognizes their voice and loves to be held close so they can see their parent’s face!
Reassure parents that it is not spoiling to follow their baby’s cues for engagement, disengagement, hunger, satiety, and sleepiness. Helping parents to see cues and respond sensitively helps parents feel effective in the care of their infant as their infant responds to their sensitive caregiving.

Reassure parents that it’s also not spoiling to soothe and comfort their baby when they are fussy or crying. During the peak of newborn fussiness (6-8 weeks), there may be times when soothing will not work and their baby may just continue crying, no matter what caregivers do. Reassure parents that this is normal.

Notice and describe if the baby initially seems stressed by seeing a new face or being laid down on the exam table, then check’s the parent’s face to see if they are safe and becomes comforted. Parents love to know that their baby recognizes them and feels a sense of safety by connecting with them visually (visually seeking proximity and connection to regulate their fearful emotions).

If noticed and it fits the visit, describe when parent and baby have mutually enjoyable back and forth moments such as reciprocal babbling episodes, or shared delight.
Follow the parent’s lead and support parental confidence and self-efficacy. Empathize with their exhaustion. Responsive caregiving by the pediatric care provider to the family can have ripple effects long after the visit that helps parents provide responsive caregiving to their baby.

Offer frequent follow-up if you’re worried or they’re worried. Pediatric care providers are often the only service providers that see young infants and are “in the right place at the right time”. The relationship with their pediatric provider is a very important and stabilizing resource for new families.

Handouts to Support Responsive Caregiving in Early Infancy