
Mag.psych., Barbara Perasovic Cigrovski
Klubko Center Leader
Center for personal, professional and children’s development
https://www.klubko.hr/
Newborns need a sense of security the most, which we provide by responding to their needs, primarily the need for physical contact and food.
Some babies mostly sleep during the first few weeks. They seem as if they want to return to the warm and peaceful comfort of their mother’s womb. It’s easy to conclude that they need nothing but food and sleep. However, beneath the surface, an exciting and rapid brain development is taking place: the development of senses like sight, hearing, and touch, the formation of initial impressions that precede some of our beliefs (for example, the belief that the world is a safe place), and much more.
Some babies are more active—they have longer periods of wakefulness, cry more, and seem to be constantly seeking something. It’s easy to conclude that they are always hungry, need more carrying, contact, or have colic. And we’re likely to be right, but we shouldn’t ignore the fact that even very young babies can get bored. 🙂
From birth, all babies need and seek stimuli that encourage their development. How much stimulation they need depends on their temperament and pace of development, which differs for each baby. At their own pace and in their own way, both sleepy babies and more active babies observe the world, actively engage with it (first by crying and vocalizing, later by grabbing, turning, and crawling toward people and objects), and rapidly acquire various skills. Both groups need diverse stimulation for their development.
Babies will determine the amount of stimulation they need on their own if we trust them and learn to recognize what they are communicating to us. Babies clearly show when they are tired and need a break from various stimuli—it’s important to observe them carefully and learn from them.
The quality of stimulation is determined by parents and all caregivers. By understanding the basics of child development and paying attention to their environment, we can provide them with everything they need, while also removing what they don’t need. For example, to support visual development, it’s enough to know that newborns can more easily recognize and pay more attention to black-and-white contrasts. A simple walk where they can observe leaves and the movement of people, or opportunities to watch our faces, is enough. Anything beyond that can even be harmful, like toys with strong sound and light stimuli, or screen stimuli that they cannot yet process.