You probably might have asked these questions,

Where do I begin? How do I go about with my baby on a typical day? or “What should I do with my baby on a daily basis?”   Am I doing it right? Is it enough? 

You are not alone. I’ve asked myself the same question, several times, over and over again.    Wondering if what I’m doing with my daughter is the right thing or if it’s really enough.

Ruth Anne Hammond in her book, Respecting Babies (2009) wrote that, “babies need predictability and regularity in their lives more than entertainment and stimulation“. She brings reality to us, parents, that we are living at a time when babies are more vulnerable to becoming passive recipients of everything around them. Where adults are quick to provide various forms of entertainment to pacify a child, which in effect, actually distracts the child and affects his ability to give his full attention.

Ruth Anne drives home the message that babies need the ability to focus, and this all begins with the quality of attention that a caregiver/parent gives to a child. When parents give their one-on-one attention to their child, the child learns to tune in. When a child learns to tune in, he becomes focused and involved to whatever interaction he is part of at the moment. This is an important value that child needs in order to achieve self-discipline in his life.

The next question is, how do you provide a sense of “predictability” to your baby? 

The answer is: Establish a ROUTINE for your baby. 

I personally believe that a  structured routine is more apt for toddlers but infants can also benefit much from having a simple routine.

Routine according to Magda Gerber is perceived by adults as  “boring sameness” because it includes the essential daily activities that a baby must undergo in order to survive. For us, it appears to be more of a daily chore that we must accomplish for the child. But it is actually  these “caregiving activities” that we should maximise in order to establish a good routine for the baby.

Why have a routine? There a lot of benefits for the child, and of course to you as well.

Primarily, you build a good relationship between you and your child. Second, you allow your child to develop basic trust and security.

Ruth Anne writes,

“a predictable life with expectable routines sets up an infant to become a child who is more easily able to display self-discipline and more willing to accept adult’s guidance because he has developed trust in us”

How do you go about with the caregiving routines?  The answer you’ll find out on Sunday.

This article is just an introduction (hehe) because I will share more about this on this Sunday’s seminar at the Momzilla Fair. If you want to know more about this, feel free to sign up for this free seminar!