Click the buttons below to reveal what babies need.
allow a baby to be calm, feel safe and secure
give individual time with a familiar adult; being lifted and shown different objects, walking around, going outside, being involved in conversations at the end of the day about what the baby has achieved with their key person and parent, as they are collected to go home
offer frequent opportunities
to engage in conversations
with an adult, listening to favourite stories and playing with favourite objects that they like at home and which help the baby settle
encourage regular opportunities to listen to and join in with music, songs, dance and being moved about
provide sensory and tactile experiences with natural objects to touch, listen to, taste and smell
encourage playing enquiry games, such as peek-a-boo, dropping and hiding objects
allow a baby to be out of doors and able to interact with the world around them as described by the adult.
promote relationships to become well known to the baby and parent
provide a regular but flexible pattern to the day which takes account of the baby's individual preferences of eating, sleeping and playing
encourage people who notice and value the baby's interests
identify and praise the baby's achievements and develop a method of keeping track of the baby's achievements which can be shared with the baby and parents
know the baby's developing competence and encourage the baby to try things out for themselves
are alert to the baby's needs to find things out and explore, and who can respond by interpreting this with the baby
encourage the baby to play games, to understand words and actions like: big, small, up, down
understand and work with the baby to practise developing skills, such as learning to crawl, turning around, keeping their balance, reaching out and handing a toy to another.
is safe, clean, comforting and predictable
is emotionally welcoming, secure and respectful
is home-like, with areas which the baby can recognise and relate to - photos of the baby's family and mirrors to see themselves in
is arranged well for the baby to be beside other babies comfortably or to sit up well-supported to see all around
offers a personalised space with preferred toys and favourite things to cuddle
allows opportunities for play inside, and for outdoor experiences
is a calm and comfortable place where the baby and adult can be together, talking and sharing experiences
offers opportunities for the baby to touch, hear, see and look at new things
provides time and space to explore what catches the baby's attention
gives space for the baby to move freely to explore different experiences without too much furniture to hinder movement.
