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The Best Practices for Infant & Toddler Development

Infants and toddler age children are forming their overall views on the world, learning their first relationships and learning just about everything else for the first time. This development happens at a fast rate. The best practices for fostering positive and ample stimuli for development should revolve around a baby's developmental needs. Among others, basic developmental functions include learning, trust and social relations, communication, behaviors, independence and physical development.

  1. Emotional Development

    • When a child is crying for no apparent reason, stay near by. Though there may be nothing you can do for them at this moment, staying nearby for a child or baby while they are inconsolable will let the baby know you care. Babies express their needs through crying. Physical touch and affection will establish a baby's trust in her caregiver from an early age. This is also true with toddlers. Physical affection and immediate action when a child is in need is imperative for a young child's trust of parents and others.

    Social Development

    • Help your baby learn to communicate from an early age. If the child is looking at you, look back at him and talk to him. If the child reaches for something that they can have give it to him. If the child reaches up toward you, pick him up. This will all reinforce communicating behavior from an early age. Talk to your baby as you are going about your daily activities. Use simple words to tell the child things such as, "I'm washing my hands," or "I'm cutting the carrots," is a good way to introduce a young baby to the world of language.

    Learning

    • Many experts recommend exposing your infant and toddler to music regularly. A home life rich in sensory stimuli including a variety of smells, toys and sounds can help the baby or child's brain make new connections. Alternatively, exposure to too many sight, sounds and smells all at the same time can be counter-productive. For example, a study conducted with autistic children showed that toddlers who play with fewer toys were more likely to successfully develop healthy communication skills, according to Health OMG.

    Independance

    • Love and trust are an important foundation for babies and young toddlers to develop independence. They are vulnerable and have limited control over their own lives, yet they must learn to explore and develop reasoning skills on their own. Set up a safe environment for the baby so you do not have to frequently tell the baby or toddler "no" to things that could harm them. Give the toddler the opportunity to make choices as often as you can, keeping the choices simple by offering only two or three options. For example, during playtime give the toddler two or three toys within reach.

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