Affirmations to
Help Your Infant Learn About Being and Trust
[ If your baby is 'beautiful and perfect, never
cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on
demand, an angel all the time,' you're the grandma.]
— Theresa Bloomingdale
The developmental task of all new babies is to trust
that the world will support them, to know they are
welcome in the family, and to learn that simply
"being" in the world is important. With recent
research on the brain, we know that bonding at this
stage can set the foundation for the rest of the
child's life. When parents recognize what their child
needs at this first stage of growth, they can give
them the affirmations on which to build a solid
foundation.
Of course, when we speak of "affirmations" for
infants, we don't particularly mean words, although
even very young children can recognize their mothers
voice at birth. Nevertheless, you may wonder how
affirmations apply to an infant since a newborn hasn't
learned a language yet. But the messages parents and
others give to newborns aren't expressed only in
words. Babies learn it is their right to be in the
world and to have their needs taken care of when their
caregivers bond with them emotionally and gently
nurture them with touch and loving care. That is why a
soothing tone of voice is as important for an infant
as the verbal encouragement offered a toddler who is
afraid to go down a slide.
Every time you gently hold a baby who has been
fussing, you are teaching her that the world is a safe
place to be. Every time you feed her when she has been
crying, you are teaching her that she can get her
needs met by letting others know what she wants. When
you respond to her needs quickly and sensitively, she
gradually learns how to comfort herself. When you talk
with her as you change her diaper or put her in the
car seat, you build on the language capacity her brain
is programmed to develop.
Affirmations needed by all babies from birth to six
months of age—and by everyone else as well:
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We're glad you're
here, because this is where you belong. |
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We love holding you
and having you near us. |
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We will provide what
you need because your needs are important to us. |
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You can take your
time to grow up at your own pace. |
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We cherish you
because you are a gift to the world. |
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We will dream great
dreams for you. |
