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See also Parenting Tipsheets Living with babies, Right from the start Living with babies Having a baby is the beginning of the most exciting journey in your life. Babies bring with them the excitement of watching a new person grow and develop, the love that comes with caring, and the responsibility of knowing that someone depends on you for everything. Sometimes this means shortage of time and money, the feeling that everything is getting out of control, and a complete change in the way you live. For most parents bringing home a new baby is not what you expected – you are not ready for the very strong feelings you will have or for the many changes that having a baby brings. It is important to remember that this is what happens for everyone – you are not alone. Babies learn more and grow faster than they will at any other time in life. Make the most of this time with your baby!
Find out more > See also Parenting Tipsheets About babies, Right from the start Right from the start Most parents know that the early years of a child's life are the building blocks for the future but why do the first few years matter so much?
In recent years there has been new research into how babies grow and develop. We now know from this research how important it is to care for babies and provide experiences that help to prepare a strong foundation for their future. When you have a baby you want to do everything you can to give your baby the best start in life. Learn how to make the most of your child's early years right from the start!
Find out more > See also Parenting Tipsheets Living with babies, About babies Learning to talk Learning to talk is one of the most difficult and important steps that young children take. It helps them to make sense of the world, to ask for what they need and to be able to get on with other people. If you think about how difficult it is for adults to learn a very different language you can get some idea of what it is like for an infant to learn to speak from having no language at all. Language and speech, like other development, takes place at different rates for different children.
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Second baby A new baby arriving in the family brings big changes for everyone, particularly for your other child. The birth of a new baby is one of the most stressful times in a young child's life, especially if your child is two or under (a toddler). As your child has not yet formed a strong inner sense of security and as there is always less of your time available when a new baby arrives, your toddler can feel less loved. If you can keep your relationship with your toddler going well at this time it will make his life easier. It will also help to build her self-esteem and confidence.
Find out more > See also Parenting Tipsheets Living with toddlers, Right from the start, Living with babies, About babies Sleep (0–6 years) Managing sleep for babies and children is one of the most common concerns for parents. Many worry about whether they are doing the right thing if their child doesn’t sleep soundly all through the night. There is no right way or place for parents to put babies and children to sleep – patterns vary between different cultures and different families. What matters is that bedtime is relaxed and comfortable and that babies and children have comfort when they need it. If what you are doing feels okay for you and your child it is right for you. If things aren’t working well for you, some of the following information may help.
Find out more > See also Parenting Tipsheets Nightmares, Grief and loss Why stories are important Stories help children to cope with a lot of their feelings and problems that they experience in their day. Story time can be a special caring time with you that your children will remember all their lives. Whether they are the stories you tell, or stories in books, stories are one of the ways that children learn to enjoy reading. Books, and the people they read about in stories, can become their friends. Children can also learn that books are a way to find out lots of useful and important things. Many people look back with pleasure on their favourite stories from childhood.
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