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Difference between revisions of "Adoption Parenting: Newborn and Infant"

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==Newborns==
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''This information was taken directly from Child Welfare Information Gateway''
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[[File:Shutterstock 130044074.jpg|thumb|350px]]
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A child is generally considered a newborn from birth to 4 weeks. Characteristics associated with newborns are their ability to lift their heads for short periods of time, turning toward familiar sounds and voices, and moving their heads from side to side. Older siblings of newborns tend to complain that these children are “no fun,” as they seem to live only to eat and sleep.
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==Infants==
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It’s often so difficult for us to determine when a child has advanced from one stage to another, for instance, from a newborn to an infant. We get confused as to whether or not they are one and the same. Therefore, we use the veiling term ‘baby;’ it just seems more encompassing. A baby is generally considered a very young child, between birth and a year old. Being that babies grow so much in a 12-month span, there are several great developments parents can look forward to as each month passes.
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In the first four months, babies track objects with their eyes and begin making noises rather than simply crying. Babies begin to recognize familiar objects and people, even from a distance. They babble a lot and laugh at their own noises. At this stage, they become interested in circular and spiral patterns and start reaching for hanging or dangling objects. By four months, some babies begin teething and sitting with support.
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By the eighth month, babies have gone from needing their parents to hold their bottles to holding it themselves, as well as feeding themselves some foods. A child’s first tooth is usually showing by now, with a few more itching to come out. At this stage, children are usually able to roll over and back, imitate many sounds, and respond to their ownnames.
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On a child’s first birthday, the differences over the last few months are definitely clear. By this time, children can identify themselves in the mirror, clap, wave “bye-bye,” crawl well, and walk with little or no help. At twelve months, babies understand simple commands and word “no." They are also able to shake their heads “no.”
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==The First Year==
 
==The First Year==
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[[File:Shutterstock 155553464.jpg|thumb|350px|left]]
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[[File:The-First-Year.jpg|thumb|350px|left]]
 
The primary task of a baby is to develop a sense of trust in the world and come to view it as a place that is predictable and reliable. Infants accomplish this through attachment to their caretakers. During their early months, children have an inborn capacity to "bond" to ensure their survival. They express it through sucking, feeding, smiling, and cooing, behaviors which, ideally, stimulate loving responses from their parents (or caretakers). These pleasant interactions and the parent's or parents' consistent attention form the parent-child bond and the foundation for a child's sense of trust.
 
The primary task of a baby is to develop a sense of trust in the world and come to view it as a place that is predictable and reliable. Infants accomplish this through attachment to their caretakers. During their early months, children have an inborn capacity to "bond" to ensure their survival. They express it through sucking, feeding, smiling, and cooing, behaviors which, ideally, stimulate loving responses from their parents (or caretakers). These pleasant interactions and the parent's or parents' consistent attention form the parent-child bond and the foundation for a child's sense of trust.
  
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Return to [[Adoption Parenting]]
 
Return to [[Adoption Parenting]]
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==Resource==
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Child Welfare Information Gateway. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
 +
 +
==Bibliography==
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'''[[Books]] for Parents and Professionals'''
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Brodzinsky, D. and Schechter, M., eds., The Psychology of [[Adoption]]. ([[New York]]: Oxford University Press, 1990).
 +
 +
Dorman, M. and Klein D., How to Stay Two When Baby Makes Three. ([[New York]]: Ballentine [[Books]], 1985).
 +
 +
Erikson, E.H., Childhood and Society. ([[New York]]: W.W. Norton and Co., 1986).
 +
 +
Fahlberg, V., "Attachment and Separation" from the series, Putting the Pieces Together. (Southfield, MI: Spaulding for Children, 1990).
 +
 +
Fraiberg, S.H., Magic Years: Understanding and Handling the Problems of Early Childhood. ([[New York]]: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1984).
 +
 +
Hoopes, J.L. and Stein, L.M., Identity Formation in the [[Adopted]] Adolescent, The [[Delaware]] Valley Study. ([[Washington]], DC: Child Welfare League of America, 1985).
 +
 +
Jewett, C.L., Adopting The Older Child. (Boston, MA: Harvard Common Press, 1978).
 +
 +
Kirk, D.H., Shared Fate. ([[New York]]: Free Press, 1964).
 +
 +
Melina, L.R., Raising [[Adopted]] Children: A Manual for [[Adoptive Parents]]. ([[New York]]: Harper and Row, 1986).
 +
 +
Parens, H., Aggression In Our Children: Coping With It Constructively. ([[New Jersey]]: Jason Aronson, Inc. 1987).
 +
 +
Schaeffer, J., and Lindstrom, C., How To Raise An [[Adopted]] Child. ([[New York]]: Copestone Press, 1989).
 +
 +
Smith, J. and Miroff, F., You're Our Child: The [[Adoption]] Experience. (Lanham, MD: Madison [[Books]], 1987).
 +
 +
Winkler, R.C., Brown, D.W., Von Keppel, M., and Blanchard, A., Clinical Practice in [[Adoption]]. ([[New York]]: Pergamon Press, Inc., 1988).
 +
 +
'''Articles and [[Research]] Reports'''
 +
Aust, P.H., "Using the Life Story Book in Treatment of Children in Placement." Child Welfare, vol. LX no. 8, (September-October 1987) 535-560.
 +
 +
Brodzinsky, D.M., "Adjustment to [[Adoption]]: A Psychosocial Perspective" in Clinical Psychology Review. Pergamon Journals Ltd., vol. 7 (1987) 25-37.
 +
 +
Cordell, A.S., Nathan, C., and Krymon, V., "Group Counseling for Children [[Adopted]] at Older Ages." Child Welfare, vol. LXIV no. 2, (March-April 1985) 113-124.
 +
 +
Kopp, C.B. "Risk Factors in Development" in Infancy and Developmental Psychology, 4th edition. [[New York]], John Wiley and Sons, (1983) 1081-1088.
 +
 +
Kraft, A.D., Palumbo, J., Mitchell D.L., Woods, P.K., Schmidt, A.W., and Tucker, N.G., "Some Theoretical Considerations on [[Confidential Adoptions]]: Part III: The [[Adopted]] Child" in Child and Adolescence Social Work Journal, vol. 2, (1985) 139-153.
 +
 +
Lindholm, B.W. and Touliatos, J. "Psychological Adjustment of [[Adopted]] and Nonadopted Children." Psychological Reports, vol. 46, (1980) 307-310.
 +
 +
Nickman, S.L. "Losses in [[Adoption]]: The Need for Dialogue." The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, vol. 40, (1985) 365-397.
 +
 +
Sants, H.J. "Genealogical Bewilderment in Children With Substitute Parents." British Journal of Medical Psychology, vol. 37, (1964) 133-141.
 +
 +
Schecter, M.D., Carlson, P.V., Simmons, J.Q., III, and Work, H.H., "Emotional Problems in the [[Adopted]] Person." Archives of General Psychiatry, vol. 10, (1964) 109-118.
 +
 +
Wieder, H. "On Being Told of [[Adoption]]." Psychoanalytic Quarterly, (1977) 1-22.

Latest revision as of 09:48, 23 January 2015

This information was taken directly from Child Welfare Information Gateway

The First Year

The-First-Year.jpg

The primary task of a baby is to develop a sense of trust in the world and come to view it as a place that is predictable and reliable. Infants accomplish this through attachment to their caretakers. During their early months, children have an inborn capacity to "bond" to ensure their survival. They express it through sucking, feeding, smiling, and cooing, behaviors which, ideally, stimulate loving responses from their parents (or caretakers). These pleasant interactions and the parent's or parents' consistent attention form the parent-child bond and the foundation for a child's sense of trust.

During this period, a consistently nurturing and tension-free environment makes a child feel secure. The most valuable thing you can do is to show, through attention and affection, that you love your child and that your child can depend on you. If you generally respond to your child's cries, s/he will learn trust. If you hug and smile at your child, s/he will learn to feel content.

Although the need to attach continues for a long time, the process of separation also begins in the first year of a child's life. A milestone is reached when children learn to separate from their parents by crawling and then by walking. At the same time, babies often become fearful of separation. Psychological separation begins too: babies start, non-verbally, to express their own wishes and opinions. Many experts in child development view early childhood as a series of alternating attachment and separation phases that establish the child as an independent person who can relate happily to family members and friends, and be capable of having intimate relationships with others.

Return to Adoption Parenting

Resource

Child Welfare Information Gateway. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Bibliography

Books for Parents and Professionals Brodzinsky, D. and Schechter, M., eds., The Psychology of Adoption. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990).

Dorman, M. and Klein D., How to Stay Two When Baby Makes Three. (New York: Ballentine Books, 1985).

Erikson, E.H., Childhood and Society. (New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 1986).

Fahlberg, V., "Attachment and Separation" from the series, Putting the Pieces Together. (Southfield, MI: Spaulding for Children, 1990).

Fraiberg, S.H., Magic Years: Understanding and Handling the Problems of Early Childhood. (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1984).

Hoopes, J.L. and Stein, L.M., Identity Formation in the Adopted Adolescent, The Delaware Valley Study. (Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America, 1985).

Jewett, C.L., Adopting The Older Child. (Boston, MA: Harvard Common Press, 1978).

Kirk, D.H., Shared Fate. (New York: Free Press, 1964).

Melina, L.R., Raising Adopted Children: A Manual for Adoptive Parents. (New York: Harper and Row, 1986).

Parens, H., Aggression In Our Children: Coping With It Constructively. (New Jersey: Jason Aronson, Inc. 1987).

Schaeffer, J., and Lindstrom, C., How To Raise An Adopted Child. (New York: Copestone Press, 1989).

Smith, J. and Miroff, F., You're Our Child: The Adoption Experience. (Lanham, MD: Madison Books, 1987).

Winkler, R.C., Brown, D.W., Von Keppel, M., and Blanchard, A., Clinical Practice in Adoption. (New York: Pergamon Press, Inc., 1988).

Articles and Research Reports Aust, P.H., "Using the Life Story Book in Treatment of Children in Placement." Child Welfare, vol. LX no. 8, (September-October 1987) 535-560.

Brodzinsky, D.M., "Adjustment to Adoption: A Psychosocial Perspective" in Clinical Psychology Review. Pergamon Journals Ltd., vol. 7 (1987) 25-37.

Cordell, A.S., Nathan, C., and Krymon, V., "Group Counseling for Children Adopted at Older Ages." Child Welfare, vol. LXIV no. 2, (March-April 1985) 113-124.

Kopp, C.B. "Risk Factors in Development" in Infancy and Developmental Psychology, 4th edition. New York, John Wiley and Sons, (1983) 1081-1088.

Kraft, A.D., Palumbo, J., Mitchell D.L., Woods, P.K., Schmidt, A.W., and Tucker, N.G., "Some Theoretical Considerations on Confidential Adoptions: Part III: The Adopted Child" in Child and Adolescence Social Work Journal, vol. 2, (1985) 139-153.

Lindholm, B.W. and Touliatos, J. "Psychological Adjustment of Adopted and Nonadopted Children." Psychological Reports, vol. 46, (1980) 307-310.

Nickman, S.L. "Losses in Adoption: The Need for Dialogue." The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, vol. 40, (1985) 365-397.

Sants, H.J. "Genealogical Bewilderment in Children With Substitute Parents." British Journal of Medical Psychology, vol. 37, (1964) 133-141.

Schecter, M.D., Carlson, P.V., Simmons, J.Q., III, and Work, H.H., "Emotional Problems in the Adopted Person." Archives of General Psychiatry, vol. 10, (1964) 109-118.

Wieder, H. "On Being Told of Adoption." Psychoanalytic Quarterly, (1977) 1-22.