How can you help your baby to feel safe with you & around others?
Erik Erikson an influential Psychologist, spoke about 8 stages of Psychosocial Development. His first few stages is a great read for new mothers as they talk about child’s psychological development.
I am here to help you learn more about the first stage, Trust vs Mistrust, where you will understand how your consistent presence as a caregiver will help your child trust the world around him/her.
Your baby either learns to Trust or Mistrust, depending upon your Consistency or Inconsistency in your care.
I am here, You can trust me
When you provide your baby with:
- Constant touch
- Eye contact
- Meet your child’s needs almost immediately
- Smile at them
- Talk to them
- Pick them up when they cry
- Be there for them, when they need you
Your actions tell them that, ‘You are safe with me.’ This eventually builds the virtue of ‘Hope’ in your child. They begin to feel that they can trust you and they grow up to trust people around them too.
Inconsistent Caregiving will lead to Mistrust
When your child
- Does not receive consistent care,
- You do not pick them up to pacify them,
- Fail to provide warmth
- Do not meet child’s basic needs
- Ignoring their presence
- Being preoccupied in your own thoughts
All the above leads to building frustration in your child, they begin to realize that the warmth & love is not consistent, therefore it is not predictable & reliable. This eventually creates Mistrust.
As they grow up, they will feel that the world is not a safe place to be in. It is undependable, unpredictable. Eventually hampering relationships around them.
As parents, you have a huge role to play in your child’s confidence levels. Your presence can do wonders!
Stay tuned to my next blog on how to talk to your child while you Toilet Training them. This is the second stage of Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial developmental theory. This will give you an insight into how your words as a caregiver matter in shaping your child’s identity.