Category: Behavior

The 5 FIND Elements of Serve and Return

The early years of a child’s life are important because their brains are growing. The experiences that a child has affects how their brain grows. One of the most important things adults do to support healthy brain development is called Serve and Return. Children serve when they do something, say something, or look at something. Adults return the serve when they respond. It’s these everyday moments that promote healthy brain development in young children.

Woman and child playing with a dandelion

Sharing a Child's Focus

This happens when you notice a child’s serve, and get interested in what they are doing, seeing, or feeling.

Noticing serves helps you identify a child’s interests and needs, and gives you an opportunity to respond.

Mother and father helping baby eat a banana

Supporting and Encouraging

You give support when you comfort a child, provide them with something they want or need, or help them do or understand something.

You encourage a child when you praise them, play with them, or acknowledge them.

Returning serves with support and encouragement strengthens your relationship with a child.

Woman helping children paint on paper

Naming

Naming happens when you provide a word or label for what a child is doing, seeing, or feeling.

Returning serves with naming helps build language. Naming feelings helps children learn about their emotions and how to cope with them.

Man holding out a blue ball to young child

Back and Forth

Once you return a serve with support, encouragement, or naming, interactions often go Back and Forth. Waiting for a child to respond gives them time to come up with their own ideas and responses.

These longer interactions build thinking, language, and social skills.

Baby crawling on ground with woman behind him encouraing

Endings and Beginnings

This happens when a child shows you they are all done with one activity, they serve by showing interest in something new, and you join them in the new activity.

Child led Endings and Beginnings encourages a child to explore their environment, and can help transitions go more smoothly.

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Filming Interactions to Nurture Development (FIND) is a strengths-based, video coaching program for parents and other caregivers of young children.

To participate in FIND offered at PCC, contact: Celina Nance 512-684-1749

Helping Your Baby Sleep

Being tired can be a big part of life with a new baby.

But parents can help babies learn good sleeping habits right away.

FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS:

1. Make up your own get-ready-to sleep steps.

  • For example:
    • Read a short book
    • Sing a lullaby
    • Give good-night
    • Kisses and turn out the lights

2. Put your baby in the crib while still awake but sleepy.

  • After you put your baby down, it may take 20 minutes for them to fall asleep.
  • If they cry, check diaper, burps, and rock or cuddle
  • Lastly, put them back down to finish falling asleep.

3. Do the same get-ready-to-sleep steps every night in the same order.

4. Make middle of the night feedings brief and boring.

5. Keep daytime naps to no more than 3 hours per nap.

6. Try to make your babies go-to-bed time the same as the last feeding of the day.

FOR 2-4 MONTHS:

1. Keep up the same get-ready-to-sleep steps, but add a new step:

  • Brush your baby’s gums/teeth with water and a washcloth.

2. Have your baby sleep in a separate room. Or:

  • Use a screen or furniture so the baby cannot see you from the crib.
  • Do not use a blanket over the side side of the crib as it could cause suffocation.

3. Delay middle of the night feedings.

  • Try only one or two feedings a night.
  • Do not lay your baby down with a bottle.

4. If your baby wake more often:

  • Try to quiet them with some gentle cuddling in the dark room.
  • Check diapers.
  • Burp your baby.
  • Check that your baby is not too hot or cold.

5. If your baby still will not settle down:

  • Feed your baby with less milk than what you gave during the day.

It takes patience, but you will get to sleep soon!

Adapted From:
Instructions for Pediatric Patients, WB Saunders Co. 1999, Barton Schmitt, MD

What Your Baby Sees

Very dark woman to a newborn baby

Baby's vision at birth

FACES AND OTHER OBJECTS

When born, a baby can see faces at arm’s length but are attracted to high contrast edges like hairline or jawline. The image to the right depicts a newborn’s sight: no color, blurry, clear edges like hair and jaw.

Mostly opaque woman in view of 2 week old baby

Baby's vision at 2-6 weeks

COLOR

Babies start to see limited color around this time. Their eyes might be attracted to brightness, darkness, or contrast. Babies can tell white from black.

Woman slightly clearer to 2 month old baby

Baby's vision at 2-3 months

OBJECT IN FOCUS

Babies can now focus on different objects instead of seeing a blurred image of them.

View of woman to 4 month old baby

Baby's vision at 4 months

MOVING OBJECTS

Babies can now follow moving objects with their eyes and can reach for them. Their color detection improves and their eye movements become steady and even.

Clear and saturated view of woman to 3 to 5 month old baby

Baby's vision at 3-5 months

DEPTH – CLOSE AND FAR

Babies have developed depth perception- the ability to see objects close and far away. They can now see in 3D.

Tips for Your 1-2 Month Baby

HELP ME BE HEALTHY

At this checkup:

  • I will be weighed and measured.
  • I will get a few vaccines. These vaccines help my body fight disease.
  • The doctor will ask you if I have had a fol­low-up hearing test. If I don’t pass this hear­ing test, I need to see an audiologist. The audiologist will give me a diagnostic hearing test. The doctor will also send us to the nearby Early Childhood Intervention program.

Keep a special notebook for my health journal.
Write about my doctor visits and the times when I’m sick. Take my health journal to my doctor visits so you can write the date that I got my vaccines.

FEED ME OFTEN, I EAT DAY AND NIGHT

Some babies, especially breastfed babies, eat more often on some days.

Follow these tips:

  • Holding me while I eat makes me feel safe and loved.Illustration of a mother and a father holding a feeding baby
  • Breast milk or iron-fortified formula should still be my only food now. Don’t put cereal or other solid food in my formula. My body isn’t ready for solid foods until I’m 4 to 6 months old. Feeding me solids too early might make me have allergies or eat too much.
  • If I’m nursing or was born early, my doctor might say I need vitamin drops. Talk to the doctor about this.

How do you know when I’m hungry?
If I’m fussy, it’s okay to try to feed me. I want to nurse or drink iron-fortified formula.

KEEP ME SAFE

  • Handle me gently. Don’t pick me up by my arms or swing me by my arms or legs. Don’t shake me or throw me in the air.
  • Protect me from falls. Be careful not to fall with me in your arms. Don’t leave me alone on a changing table, bed, or other high place, I could fall.
  • If you give me medicine at night, turn on the light and read the label every time to make sure you are giving me the right medicine and the right amount of medicine.

PLAY WITH ME, IT HELPS ME LEARN

  • Let me feel different objects by rubbing them against my hands. let me feel some soft and some bumpy materials. I like to feel the differ­ent clothes you wear.
  • Tell me how special I am. Smile and talk to me a lot.
  • Show me bright colors. I can easily see the difference between black and white or red and yellow.
  • Put me in a baby carrier or carry me and hold me while you move around the house. Talk to me about what you are doing. I like to see what is happening.
  • Look at me when you talk to me. I want to copy your mouth.
  • Repeat the sounds I make. I like the game of making sounds.
  • Read to me. I like to hear the sound of your voice.

READ ABOUT BEING A PARENT

  • Go to your local library for books, magazines, newsletters, and leaflets on parenthood. Use the library’s computers.
  • The Mental Health America of Texas website has help for parents at www.parentinginformation.org. Read the section “How to Help Your Crying Baby” or the childcare checklist in the downloadable version of this guide.
  • Ask someone you trust to come watch me so you can have a break. Join a group of parents that talks about ways to help children grow. To find parent educators near you, go to the Texas Registry of Parent Educators Resources (ROPER) at www.unt.edu/cpe.
  • When you feel stressed, talk to your partner, a family member, or a good friend about your feelings. It helps to talk with someone who is close to you.

WATCH HOW I GROW

Illustration of happy baby on blanket with toys

  • Wave, kick, and squirm when lying on my back.
  • Make sounds like “uh,” “eh” and “oh.”
  • Look and stare at things. I look at you a lot.
  • Lift my head up and turn it side­ ways when I’m on my stomach.
  • Turn to you and smile at you when I see or hear you.
  • Quiet down, move my eyes, or change my expression when I hear, your voice or some other noise.

You might notice that I also:

  • Cross my eyes sometimes. This is normal. I will do this until my eye muscles get stronger.
  • Gurgle, smile, and laugh when I’m happy.
  • Have tears when I cry. My tear ducts are starting to work now.
  • Like to suck my thumb or pacifier. Sucking is a way that I learn about my world. It is also one way that I calm myself down.

Children are very different from one another.
If I was born early or have special needs, it might take me a little longer to do some things. You can help me learn. If you are worried, talk to my doctor or nurse. To find a nearby Early Childhood Intervention program, call the DARS Help Line toll-free at 1-800-628-5115.

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Baby Blues

Baby Blues

Very common; can go away on its own, but talking to a health care provider can help.

Signs:

  • Crying
  • Not Sleeping
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Not wanting to eat
  • Short temper/mood swings

Postpartum Depression

Common anytime during baby’s first year; goes away with help from a health care provider.

Signs:

  • Sadness
  • Not wanting to touch or hold baby
  • Not wanting to talk to family or friends
  • Thoughts of hurting yourself or baby

Postpartum Anxiety

An intense worry that takes over your life; seek help as soon as possible.

Signs:

  • Uncontrolled worry
  • Not being able to sleep when baby does
  • Afraid that something will hurt baby
  • Afraid that YOU will hurt baby
  • Afraid to be alone with baby
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Sweating/shaking

Postpartum Psychosis

Not common; SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY.

Signs:

  • Hallucinations
  • Feeling very confused
  • Speech that doesn’t make sense
  • Severe insomnia
  • Thoughts about hurting yourself or baby right now

Where to seek help?

Postpartum Depression Hotline: 1-800-773-6667 (24-hour hotline)

Any Baby Can – Postpartum Support and Groups: 512-334-4444 (Parent Helpline); 512-454-3743 (Main phone)

Postpartum Support International: 1-800-944-4773

2-1-1 Texas from your cell phone: 1-877-541-7905

Postpartum Support International: www.postpartum.net

DSHS Pregnancy, Parenting and Depression Resource List

The National Women’s Health Information Center: www.womenshealth.gov

Parents Anonymous: www.parentsanonymous.org

Depression During and After Pregnancy

The Online PPD Support Group: www.ppdsupportpage.com

Safe Sleep and Your Baby

A safe sleep space for baby will help prevent suffocation.

The ABCDs of safe sleep:
Alone, Back, Crib, Dangers

Baby should sleep...

Alone

Your baby should sleep without pillows, blankets, bumpers, toys, people, pets, or other soft objects.

On his or her Back

Your baby should sleep on their back on a firm, flat surface for every sleep.

In a Crib

Your baby should sleep in a crib, bassinet, play yard, or baby box in the same room as the caregiver.

Room sharing is recommended for the first year.

Without Dangers

Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, or using drugs when pregnant or caring for baby.

Sleep in a smoke-free environment.

Avoid overheating by dressing baby lightly.

Stop swaddling when baby starts trying to roll.

SLEEPING IN THE SAME BED AS BABY IS NOT RECOMMENDED AND IS MORE RISKY IF:

  • Baby is less than 4 months old.
  • Baby was born prematurely or with a low birth weight.
  • The baby’s mother smoked during pregnancy.
  • The person bed-sharing is a smoker.
  • The person bed-sharing used drugs or drank any amount of alcohol.
  • The person bed-sharing is not one of the baby’s parents.
  • The surface the baby is sleeping on is soft, such as a couch, armchair, or adult mattress.
  • Baby is sleeping with soft bedding such as pillows and blankets.

Source: AAP Safe Sleep Policy Statement, 2016

Read more at safekidsaustin.org.

Common Infant Problems: Crying

Seated crying baby

Crying is how your baby communicates with you. Your baby may cry if they are:

  • Thirsty or hungry
  • Have a wet diaper
  • Too hot/too cold
  • Uncomfortable
  • Bored
  • Afraid
  • Hurt
  • Tired or too excited

What can I do?

  • Respond quickly to your baby. A quick response helps your baby calm down faster
  • Thirsty/hungry – watch if your baby is sucking on their lips, fingers, or fist.(This is a sign that they are hungry). Feed your baby before they get too upset.
  • Wet diaper – change a wet or dirty diaper as soon as possible.
  • Too hot/too cold – take off or put on clothes or blanket to keep baby comfortable
  • Uncomfortable – try changing their position in their bed or carrier. They could be in an odd position, such as laying on their arm.
  • Bored/need attention – Hold, rock, or play with your baby. Try playing music, sing, talk, or read to them.
  • Too excited/afraid – Hold, rock, and talk softly to calm your baby. Try to make your surroundings quieter. Try skin to skin contact with your baby or swaddling them in a blanket.
  • Hurt – check for red marks or scratches. Make sure that diapers and clothes fit comfortably.
  • Tired – Try placing your baby on their back and see if they settle down.

Digital thermometer

If nothing seems to help: Your baby might be sick.

See a doctor if your baby:

  • Has a temperature above 99 degrees F
  • Has watery stools
  • Vomiting
  • Less than 6-8 wet diapers a day
  • A skin rash
  • Crying that will not stop

For more help, contact:

Hey Mom, it’s for you!

Text “BABY” to 511411

Get FREE tips on your cell phone to help you through your first pregnancy and your baby’s first year.

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Text4baby is a program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition.

text4baby.org

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Colic

WHAT IS COLIC?

  • Long periods of sudden, unexplained crying that will not stop. Could be due to stomach pain.
  • Usually starts around 2-6 weeks old
  • Usually stops around 3-4 months old

Upset and crying baby

Infographic of Colic Symptoms

SYMPTOMS:

  • Cries for 3+ hours a day, for 3+days a week, for 3+ weeks
  • Hard to calm down baby
  • Stiffening of legs, pulling legs up in pain, clenching fists Passing a lot of gas
  • Spitting up and crying during and after feeding
  • Not sleeping for long periods at a time

REMEMBER

There is no cure for colic and there is no known cause, but there are ways to help.

THINGS TO TRY:

  • Playing calming music or talk quietly to your baby
  • Give your baby a gentle massage
  • Place baby on your chest, skin to skin
  • Wrap your baby in a swaddle
  • Hold your baby on its side or stomach
  • Gently rock baby in your arms
  • Shush baby
  • Try taking a car ride or brisk walk in a stroller
  • Do NOT give your baby juice, this can cause gas
  • Talk to a WIC Breastfeeding Counselor about breastmilk overproduction (www.breastmilkcounts.com)

Musical notes on a staff

Illustration of woman holding baby on its belly

Female pediatrician smiling at a baby

IF NOTHING WORKS:

  • See a doctor
  • Ask a doctor before starting any medications
  • DON’T SHAKE THE BABY
  • Find someone to help you during this time
  • Be Patient – colic usually goes away within 3-4 months

Source: TexasWIC.org

Get to Know Your New Baby

Get To Know Your New Baby: WIC’s Guide for Birth to 3 Months

A New Baby!

You must feel excited and completely overwhelmed!

This booklet will help you learn what your newborn needs to be happy and healthy.

All babies are different, but their movements and noises will let you know when they’re hungry, happy, uncomfortable or just tired.

You will soon learn your baby’s cues and become your newborn’s superhero!

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