Singing, gazing intoa baby’s eyes and responding to their needs withlove, comfort and reassurance are instinctive for many new parents and caregivers. But for some parents, these small bonding moments, which are crucial for healthy brain development, take time to develop.
Financial or relationship pressures, mental health difficulties or early parental trauma can all impact the bonding process. But it is during the first critical 1,001 days, from conception to age two, when babies’ brains grow at such a rapid rate that the lifelong foundations for mental andphysical health are laid.
Early years practitioners are at the front line of working with new and expectant parents. The relationship often starts before their babies are born, when they look around and enrol in the setting. But with more babies entering nursery from this September, due to the expansion of the funded hours, what role can nurseries play in supporting parents to build stronger bonds with their babies?
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