Three of the most common concerns of parents in their baby's first year are:
- Why is my baby crying?
- How can I get my baby to sleep well?
- How can I enhance my baby's development?
The best-selling book, Baby Sense reveals that the answer to these concerns lies in your baby's sensory world. Your baby's response to his sensory world is the key to having a baby who is happily awake, learning from his world or falling asleep with ease and sleeping peacefully for long stretches.
In this unique book based on sensory integration principles, baby care consultants Megan Faure (an occupational therapist) and Ann Richardson (a specialist nursing sister) pool their wealth of hands - on experience and professional knowledge to help you tune in to your baby and understand
- how sensory input affects him
- what he means by the signals he gives; and
- how to respond to these signals by regulating his sensory environment and stimulation
This knowledge will enable you to
- keep your baby calm, contented and free from colic;
- provide optimal stimulation at appropriate times, to enhance his development; and
- ensure that he has positive early sensory experiences.
The first part of the book provides answers and explanations for the common questions of the first year - feeding, sleep and crying, from the perspective of your baby's sensory world. The second part is divided into six age bands from birth to one year, with guidelines and practical advice on feeding and sleep, establishing a flexible routine, age appropriate routines and detailed suggestions for appropriate stimulation to enhance development.
A baby-centric approach would be to have the guidelines of 'awake time' for each developmental age, as found in Baby Sense and then more importantly to learn to read your baby's signals. Practically this would entail watching the clock to see what time your baby wakes and then make sure to watch that your baby goes down according to his 'awake times'. In addition to this you should watch for your baby's own signals. Signals that a baby is tired include rubbing eyes, sucking hands, touching ears, looking into space, drowsy eyes or many other self soothing strategies. When your baby shows the signs of drowsiness, he should be put down to sleep.
Baby Sense is available in English and Afrikaans in leading bookstores in South Africa. International orders can be made through our UK shop. The Portuguese edition is now available in Europe and the US edition is available through Amazon.com.
