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30.13: APPENDIX- Strategies For Support

  • Page ID
    199031
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         APPENDIX: Strategies for Support

    Strategies for Support

    Why might my infant be doing this?

    What can I do to prevent the behavior?

    What can I do if the behavior occurs?

    What new skills should I teach?

    Infant is crying

    • Respect infants’ cues; they might need a break from interactions.
    • Make sure all other needs (diapering and sleep) are met.
    • Hold the infant to give comfort, closeness, and warmth.
    • Talk or sing quietly to the infant (figure out what sounds soothe them the best, usually the caregiver’s voice).
    • Make sure all other needs (food, diapering, and sleep).
    • Give the infant a preferred object, such as a pacifier, blanket, or stuffed toy (depending on age), to hold.
    • Change the infant’s position to make it easier for them to look toward you.
    • Try doing one comforting action at a time. The infant might be overstimulated by more.
    • Hold the infant to give comfort, closeness, and warmth.
    • Talk, sing, and interact quietly with an infant.
    • Change the infant’s position, hold a different way.
    • Swaddle infants in a blanket to make them feel secure.
    • Teach infants that you will be there to comfort and support them.
    • Teach them that you will respond when they cry.
    • Teach the infant about a comforting item (pacifier,
    •   blanket, stuffed animal).
    • Begin to establish routines so the infant learns  what to expect.

    Infant doesn’t like to be held

    • Use the infant’s preferred method of calming (try one at a time; more may be over-stimulating).
    • Make sure the environment is not over-stimulating for the infant (it needs to be calm, soothing, and lighting dimmed), and remove objects or the infant if it is too overwhelming.
    • Find fewer physical activities the infant might enjoy (listen to music or a visual stimulus to look at).
    • Talk and comfort the infant.
    • Try doing one comforting action at a time. The infant might be over stimulated by more.
    • Remove the infant from a stimulating environment.
    • Make sure all other needs (food, diapering, and sleep) are met.
    • Allow infants to lie safely alone; they might have a need to self-calm.





     

    • Teach the infant that you will be there to comfort and support them.

    Infant doesn’t like family members to leave

    • Ask family members to stay and interact if time allows or come in on days they don’t have to rush out.
    • Work to provide a welcoming environment during drop off. Smile and talk with dropping off family member so the infant knows you are a safe and trusting person.
    • As the infant gets older, use a visual schedule to show him/her when family member will return after play, singing, snacking, or going to the playground.
    • Ask family not to “sneak out” and make sure they say goodbye (this gives the infant reassurance that they will come back).
    • Hold the infant and give comfort and reassurance.
    • Talk and interact with the infant
    • For an older infant, give him/her a picture of family.
    • Give the infant a favorite toy or object that he/she can use with an infant.
    • Teach an older infant about the schedule of the day and when family will return, “I will be back after you play outside.”
    • Teach infant that you will be there to comfort and keep them safe.

    Infant refuses to eat or falls asleep after eating a small amount or infant fusses when feeding

    • Adapt the schedule according to  the infant’s rhythms.
    • Try a different feeding position.
    • For an older infant, give a choice of what to eat.
    • Allow the infant to sleep; they will wake when hungry.
    • Make sure the environment is not over-stimulating for the infant.
    • Make sure all other needs (diapering and sleep) are met.
    • Adapt to infant’s schedule and feed him/her when she is interested and/or not sleepy or fussy.
    • Move  the infant to a less stimulating place (quiet, low light, and/or quiet music).
    • Teach older infants to use sign language to tell you when they are hungry or full.
    • Teach infant that you will be there to comfort and keep them safe.

    Infant fusses and cries when getting changed

    • Change infant’s position.
    • Talk and sing to the infant while changing.
    • Cuddle the infant before placing it on the table to change.
    • Narrate what you are doing and praise the infant for being still
    • If the infant can sit up or stand on their own, offer to allow him/her to stand but have them help with the change.
    • Pick the infant up and comfort and calm.
    • Talk or sing quietly.
    • Move the infant to a different spot or change position to make him/her comfortable.
    • Have everything ready and do a quick change so you can hold and calm the infant.
    • Give older infant something to hold (helping you change the diaper).
    • Move the infant to a different spot or change position to make him/her comfortable.
    • Teach the infant that you will be there to comfort and support them.
    • Teach the infant the routine by talking through  actions each time you change them.
    • Teach an older infant that first you do this and then you can choose what to do next.

    Infant appears fearful of toys or object

    • If an object/toy makes a sound and it startles the infant, talk and hold them and reassure them that they are safe.
    • Select objects/toys for the infant by following the infant’s preference (quiet toys, toys that move, bright color toys, contrasting color toys, etc.).
    • Remove the toy/object and give an infant a preferred toy/object to play with.

     

    Infant does not like to nap/sleep

    • Hold, cuddle, rock, or sing quiet music for infants.
    • Use a favorite sleep item, e.g., a stuffed animal, pillow, or blanket.
    • Read a simple story.
    • Play soothing music.
    • Try to darken the room or infant’s sleep area.
    • Rock and cuddle with the infant until sleeping.
    • Make sure all other needs, food, and diapering are met.
    • Calm and soothe infant by holding, rocking, or swaddling.
    • Offer a choice of “comfort item.”
    • Teach the infant that you will be there to comfort and support them.
    • Teach the infant that you will be there to comfort and support them.

    Infant has a hard time settling down or soothing self to sleep

    • Put on quiet music.
    • Have the infant positioned with minimal distractions (darkened room, quiet, calm space a preferred position in arms).
    • Hold, rock, rub the infant's back, or sing to the infant.
    • Offer a choice of comfort items.
    • Make sure all other needs, food, and diapering are met.
    • Teach the infant that you will be there to comfort and support them.

    An infant doesn’t want to leave the parent

    • Comfort and reassure the infant that someone will pick up him/her.
    • Allow older infants and toddlers to keep photos of their parents in a cubby or pocket.
    • Ask the parent/guardian to stay a brief amount of time with infant.
    • Provide infant with a comfort item or preferred toy.
    • Make sure all other needs (food, diapering, and sleep) are met.

     


     


    30.13: APPENDIX- Strategies For Support is shared under a mixed license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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