“You can witness a magical dance taking place between babies as young as 6 weeks of age and their caregivers – exchanges that resemble conversations in the back-and-forth of timing and sequencing of the sounds, gestures, and facial expressions. It almost looks as if the baby is wooing the adult. These “conversations” are a significant part of the attachment process. What babies and adults are doing in these playful exchanges are getting to know each other. By the time babies are 12 weeks old, patterns of caregiver/baby interactions are being filed in their brains, allowing them to develop expectations as they come to learn whether than can or cannot depend on adults and to adjust their behaviors accordingly.” — J. Ronald Lally (excerpt from his new book For Our Babies: Ending the Invisible Neglect of America’s Infants, pp 45-46.)
What can we be doing differently to promote healthier development of America’s infants? For Our Babies: Ending the Invisible Neglect of America’s Infants includes 20 recommended supports and services for babies and their families. You can order the book on WestEd’s website here.
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