Your baby/child will grow best in everyway if they learn to trust that you will respond to their needs with loving care.
Loving care can be shown by the way you speak to your child, the way you hold and touch them, and how you respond to their cry or calls for help.
All children enjoy spending time with their parents/carers, playing games, reading, going to the park, helping parent/carers with household activities and enjoying their parent's attention of them at structured activities.
By showing your child you enjoy being with them, have fun spending time with them and doing the things they like to do, you as the parent will help your child to become confident and feel good about themselves. This will also foster bonding and attachment between you and your child.
Being a parent can be challenging at times as every child is an individual and is developing at his or her own rate. It is helpful to know your own child's stage of development so that you can understand their behaviour.
When a child is hungry, tired or bored they struggle to communicate how they are feeling to their parent/carer and often display such emotions as fussing, crying, becoming angry and for the older child, temper tantrums. During these times your child wants to be close to you and have your attention.
Your child and family health nurse will be able to explore any areas of concern you may have about your child's stage of development.
Raising children network resources: