In Newcastle, we use a framework called The Solihull Approach. This is a way of thinking about how your baby sees the world. This can help you and your baby to develop a sensitive relationship with each other.
We know that the early years of a baby’s brain development is very important to help your child to grow into a kind, emotionally well child.
The most important time for brain development is from the day a baby is conceived until they are 2 years old. Babies are born with almost all the brain cells they need for their lifetime but the connections between the cells are missing.
These connections develop based on what babies experience and the relationships they have with their families and carers within these early days and years. In order to make these connections positive they need to feel safe and loved.
How to develop these connections
Talking, reading, singing to and playing with your baby are all amazing ways you can help develop these connections. Time spent responding to your baby by talking and smiling with them is very important and will help your relationship and bond grow for the future.
Relationships shape who we are. They shape how our brains develop from as early as pregnancy and throughout our lives.
In order to build a healthy brain there are a few things we all must experience and have within our relationships to help us grow.
Containment
Containment helps us feel that our emotions are understood. It helps us feel safe and listened to. Before babies are born they are ‘contained’ in the womb. This is physical containment.
When the baby is born it can take a long time to understand that they are a person themselves – separate from their mother. In order to learn this they need to feel emotional containment. This happens when you respond to your babies cries and comfort them to reassure them you’re there.
Reciprocity
Reciprocity is an interaction between 2 people and happens in all relationships. Babies need this to learn new things. This happens when you respond to your baby, talk, sing, smile and interact. Reciprocity can be thought of like a tennis match. One person ‘serves’ and the other person ‘returns’ the ball. This will continue until one person misses or wants to stop the game and is a normal part of all interactions.
It’s important to have an understanding of containment and reciprocity and how they can help your baby’s development and your well being as a parent or caregiver. It is also important to understand how the brain continues to develop into childhood and teenage years.
As part of Children and Families Newcastle and the Start 4 life initiative there are a series of online courses created by The Solihull Approach and available free to all families living in Newcastle.
The courses are all available at any time so you can take as long as you like to complete them without any pressure, and they can be translated into lots of languages.
Courses include understanding your
- Baby, toddler and child and teenage development
- Sick and pre-term infant (for those with babies in hospital)
- Child’s mental health and well being
- Child with additional needs
- Own trauma
Whatever stage you are at, from pregnancy to parenting teenagers, there is something for you.
If you’d rather join a group to meet other parents and carers, get in touch with your local hub to see what’s happening near you.
About The Solihull Approach
Register an account (you must have a Newcastle postcode to access the free courses)
