Infants and their families (DHS) Some things to be aware of when making contact with families with infants include: Infant observations Is the infant alert when awake? Is the infant visually tracking people and/or objects? Is the infant making eye-to-eye contact (with you as a visitor/ and the care giver)? Is the infant responsive to faces? Is the infant seeking attention and care? Is the infant responding to sounds? Is the infant responding to physical closeness? Is the infant showing interest in movement and objects? Is the infant calm or emotionally agitated? Is the infant active or passive? Are the milestones at the anticipated stage? Parent observations: Does the parent use the Maternal and Health Service? Are the child’s MCH checks and immunisations up to date? Does the parent have a regular family doctor? How does the parent talk about/describe the infant? What is the parent able to tell you about the child’s development, health and general wellbeing? What do you see that enables you to consider the attachment the parent has with the infant? Overall, what do you see that enables you to consider the level of responses, care and nurturing given to the infant? What do you see that enables you to consider the of stimulation provided in the home? What do you see and hear that tells you whether the nutritional needs of the infant are being met? How will you know that all basic needs are being met? Does the parent appear to be available and attached to the infant? Does the parent look at her/his child and give gentle physical touches? Does the parent have an understanding that an infant’s cries are the way they get their basic needs met? Does the parent move and respond to the child’s vocalisations as well as cries?
Infants and their families (DHS) Some things to be aware of when making contact with families with infants include: Infant observations Is the infant alert when awake? Is the infant visually tracking people and/or objects? Is the infant making eye-to-eye contact (with you as a visitor/ and the care giver)? Is the infant responsive to faces? Is the infant seeking attention and care? Is the infant responding to sounds? Is the infant responding to physical closeness? Is the infant showing interest in movement and objects? Is the infant calm or emotionally agitated? Is the infant active or passive? Are the milestones at the anticipated stage? Parent observations: Does the parent use the Maternal and Health Service? Are the child’s MCH checks and immunisations up to date? Does the parent have a regular family doctor? How does the parent talk about/describe the infant? What is the parent able to tell you about the child’s development, health and general wellbeing? What do you see that enables you to consider the attachment the parent has with the infant? Overall, what do you see that enables you to consider the level of responses, care and nurturing given to the infant? What do you see that enables you to consider the of stimulation provided in the home? What do you see and hear that tells you whether the nutritional needs of the infant are being met? How will you know that all basic needs are being met? Does the parent appear to be available and attached to the infant? Does the parent look at her/his child and give gentle physical touches? Does the parent have an understanding that an infant’s cries are the way they get their basic needs met? Does the parent move and respond to the child’s vocalisations as well as cries?
Early%20Years%20Resource%20Kit.docx