- Feb 15 Sun 2009 05:21
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Your 11-month-old's development
- Jan 14 Wed 2009 07:59
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Your 10-month-old's development
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Caring for your child's feet
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Developmental milestones: Walking
- Dec 23 Tue 2008 06:15
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Your 9-month-old's development
- Nov 17 Mon 2008 06:17
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Milestone chart: Seven to 12 months
- Nov 15 Sat 2008 06:21
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Your 8-month-old's development
- Nov 08 Sat 2008 06:54
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Developmental milestones: Separation and independence
資料來源 Baby Centre, 文章內字體顏色不同者,按下會直接連結至說明網頁
Approved by the BabyCentre Medical Advisory Board
Separation and independence
When will your baby know where you end and she begins? At birth she thinks she's a part of you and doesn't have a sense of herself as an individual (infants don't even realise that the tiny hands and feet they see before them are their own). But over time, as she develops various physical, mental, and emotional skills and grows more confident, she'll start to figure out that she's her own person (with her own body, thoughts, and feelings) and she'll increasingly want to do things her way.
When it develops
A baby's sense of individuality take years to develop. At first she thinks you and she are one and the same. Then at around six months she'll start to realise that she is separate from you, and that you can leave her alone. This is when the fear of abandonment known as separation anxiety usually begins. It can last well into the second year. But once your child becomes more social and more confident that you will, in fact, come back for her when you leave her at nursery or with a babysitter, she will be able to move foward and forge her own identity. By the toddler years her budding independence may actually become a problem. Wanting things "my way" is at the heart of temper tantrums.
How it develops
One to six months
Children under six months completely identify with their primary caregivers. They don't really think about themselves, only what they immediately need: food, love, and attention. In the first three months, your baby can't even think about tackling the process of forming her own identity. She's too busy trying to gain control over her basic movements and reflexes. You may start to notice the first signs of budding independence at about four months. That's when your baby will discover that she can cry to get your attention. That's one of the first steps in learning that she has an independent will and that how she behaves can have an impact on others, namely you.
Seven to 12 months
At around seven months your baby will realise she is independent of you; this is a huge cognitive leap worthy of celebration. Unfortunately, this new understanding of separateness makes your baby anxious. She's become so attached to you that when you leave her alone, even for a minute, she will burst into tears. She doesn't have the information yet that you will always come back. And sneaking out when her back is turned - when you leave her at nursery, for example - won't help. In fact, it may just make her more afraid that you aren't coming back. Hard as it can be, say goodbye and go while she's watching.
A now famous British study shows exactly how clueless babies are about their own existence. Researchers placed several infants under the age of one in front of a mirror to see whether they understood that the reflection was an image of themselves. They didn't. The children patted their mirror image, behaving as if they were seeing another baby. And when researchers dabbed red rouge on each baby's nose and plopped them back in front of the mirror, they always tried to touch their reflection's nose, not their own.
12 to 24 Months
Your baby's making more progress now differentiating herself from you and from the world around her. In the same British study mentioned above, researchers put rouge on the noses of children about 21 months old. When they looked in the mirror they touched their own nose, showing that they understood that the image in the mirror was a reflection of them.
Two-year-olds may still get upset when you leave them at nursery or with a babysitter, but they recover much more quickly now because they're more secure. Experience, and their budding memory skills, have taught them that you will come back after being gone for a while. Your toddler's trust in you is growing now, because you have continually shown her that you love and care for her. It's that feeling of trust that gives her the confidence to venture out on her own. What signs of independence will you notice now? Your child may insist on wearing her purple pajamas for the fifth night in a row, eating only certain foods, and climbing into her car seat by herself.
25 to 36 months
Between the ages of two and three, a toddler will continue to struggle for independence. She will wander farther away from you as she goes exploring, and she'll continue to test her limits (colouring on the walls, for example, even if you tell her not to). In fact, "I can do it myself" is probably one of the most common refrains parents hear from older toddlers.
What comes next
With age comes greater independence and self-awareness. Each year will bring more things that your child will want to do on her own. As your child gets older, she'll become more knowledgeable about herself and the scope of her abilities. Future developments include the ability to prepare her own food, make friends, and go to school.
Your role
For your child to move away and explore her world, she needs a secure attachment to you. Consistently give her love and support, and she'll build the confidence she needs to strike out on her own. Creating this strong attachment should begin in infancy. Simple things like responding immediately to your baby's cries, feeding her when she's hungry, changing her nappy when it's dirty, and smiling and talking to her when she's quiet and alert help build these crucial parent-child bonds.
You should also make sure that you've set up a safe environment for your child at home. Babies and toddlers must test their limits and explore their surroundings to develop independence. Instead of running around saying "no" every time she touches something that could harm her, keep dangerous objects out of her reach and safe ones within it. That way she won't get frustrated when she wanders, and she'll be safe.
Know, too, that just because your child is starting to strike out on her own doesn't mean she'll require less of your comfort and love. Children may grow less needy, but they still crave the constant care of their parents. Encourage her any time she tries something on her own, but don't push her away when she runs back to you for reassurance. She'll want and need this for a long time to come.
When to be concerned
Although separation anxiety is normal for babies between ten and 18 months, you should consult your child's doctor if her anxiety becomes so overwhelming that she is unable to do anything without you by her side or if she's inconsolable even after you're long gone from her presence.
- Oct 13 Mon 2008 19:23
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Your 7-month-old's development
- Sep 13 Sat 2008 17:27
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Your 6-month-old's development
- Sep 04 Thu 2008 04:30
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孫悟空
孫悟空不是一翻身可以翻到天邊去嗎
這位大小姐現在就是!!
不過這是要寫她第一次正式翻身啦,我跟把拔等了半個多小時,又是裝瘋賣傻,又是不停的愛的鼓勵,她才甘願表演 這樣代表她又長大一些啦
今天第一次吃水果糊 1/5香蕉加奶奶加米精 - 太好吃了,全吃光....
她已經吃過的水果 - 蘋果, 香蕉
- Aug 17 Sun 2008 22:48
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滿五個月
體重: 超過 6 公斤
身高: 大約 62 公分左右
活動力: 二百萬戰鬥力
目前她的情感表現越來越明顯, 我是指如果看到電視上的寶寶哭泣, 她也會有反應; 如果事情安排有不如意的,她會生氣,抗議,尖叫,哭泣; 也開始有 " 騙人 " 的狀況, 會假裝哭泣,就是沒眼淚的那種, 然後等把拔或馬麻來抱起她; 開始有長牙的現象, 口水不停流, 一天下來要換上 3 件左右的圍巾, 2 件衣服左右, 還有她咬她的玩具, 固齒器好像在咬仇人一樣, 既兇又狠的
" 說話 " 的狀況又開始多了起來,不過要加上尖叫, 若不知我家是有小孩的鄰居, 大概會想我家是每天都在出人命喔 她也開始有分心的狀況, 這對喝奶時很困擾呢
開始對她的手偶小黃兔有極大的興趣,拿在她眼前的話,會超級興奮 + 尖叫, 玩個不停, 睡覺時也要摟著它入睡, 但睡熟了之後,就把它丟在一旁 ( 小黃兔: 你愛我的話,我像個寶, 不要我時,我像個棄婦一樣的,我...... 要怎麼活下去啊 ) 都是把拔要這麼跟她玩起來的啦
把拔讓她抓他的手指頭,她會想要坐起來喔,而且一臉很興奮的樣子; 已經不願意躺在小椅裡了,得讓她坐在另一個小椅裡, 也嘗試想要站起來; 飛 的遊戲也非常熱衷 ( 好像所有的寶寶都愛這個 ) 只有成功的翻過一次, 現在比較習慣趴著了,不過還是不能持久,因為太無聊了; 脖子的肌肉協調的狀況更好了, 眼睛到處看, 頭到處轉,忙的很啊
其中一個個性跟馬麻很像, " 好客 + 愛熱鬧 " 不管是出門購物, 逛大街, 只要有人跟她問好, 她都是大微笑回應對方的, 有時候還會回人家話喔, 讓跟她講話的人都心花怒放的, 馬麻才會叫她 " 賣笑的小姑娘 " 看過她的阿姨們都很愛她,尤其她很會巴結這些阿姨們, 讓這些阿姨們爽翻天
進行了一週的 Baby Rice 測試, 反應佳, 現在是一天 30ml + 2 茶匙米粉 = 米奶, 吃的很開心, 嫌娘動作慢還會生氣喔, 吃完了還要呢, 不過馬麻得做好控制, 拿玩具或音樂轉移注意力, 也是唯一在吃完點心後, 會乖乖讓馬麻擦小手及小臉蛋,平常要擦時, 她可是很不高興的呢
