Infant education: Infant Education Curriculum – Overview
Learning, Play, and Your Newborn (for Parents)
en español: Aprendizaje, juego y su recién nacido
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Play is the main way that infants learn how to move, communicate, socialize, and understand their surroundings. During the first month of life, your baby will learn by interacting with you.
The first thing your baby will learn is to associate you with getting their needs met. So, the feel of your touch, the sound of your voice, and the sight of your face will begin to mean nourishment, warmth, and comfort.
Even at this young age, babies are ready to learn about the world around them. Your newborn loves to look your face. Newborns can recognize and respond to a parent’s voice (or other interesting sounds) by looking alert and becoming less active. Babies may try to find out where a sound is coming from by looking around.
When is My Baby Ready to Play and Learn?
During the first month of life, your newborn will spend much of the day sleeping or seeming drowsy. Over the next several weeks to months, your baby will begin to be awake and alert for longer periods of time. You’ll learn to recognize when your baby is ready to learn and play:
- A baby who is quiet and alert will be attentive and responsive and interested in their surroundings. Encourage learning with smiles, soothing sounds, and gentle caresses.
- A baby who is awake but active (squirming, flapping arms, or kicking legs) or fussing is less able to focus on you. The baby may seem upset or cry when you try to get their attention. These are signs that your baby may be getting hungry, tired, or overstimulated.
How Can I Help My Newborn Learn?
As you care for your newborn, talk, smile, and interact with your baby. Pay attention and respond to your baby’s cues. For example, watch how your baby moves or starts to make sounds back when you speak. Take turns “talking” to each other. This is how your baby learns to communicate.
In the first few weeks, you may want to introduce some simple, age-appropriate toys that appeal to the senses of sight, hearing, and touch, such as:
- rattles
- textured toys
- musical toys
- unbreakable crib mirrors
Choose toys and mobiles with contrasting colors and patterns. Strong contrasts (such as red, white, and black), curves, and symmetry stimulate an infant’s developing vision. As vision improves and babies gain more control over their movements, they’ll interact more with their environment.
How Can I Help My Newborn Play?
Here are some other ideas for encouraging your newborn to learn and play:
- Smile, stick out your tongue, and make other expressions for your infant to study, learn, and imitate.
- Use a favorite toy for your newborn to focus on and follow, or shake a rattle for your infant to find.
- Let your baby spend some awake time lying on the tummy to help strengthen the neck and shoulders. Always supervise your infant during “tummy time” and be ready to help if they get tired or frustrated in this position. Never put an infant to sleep on their stomach — babies should sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
- Talk and read to your baby.
- Put on soothing music and hold your baby, gently swaying to the tune.
- Pick a soothing song or lullaby and softly sing it often to your baby. The familiarity of the sound and words will have a soothing effect, particularly during fussy times.
When Should I Call the Doctor?
There is a wide range of normal development, so some children may gain skills earlier or later than others. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about how your newborn sees and hears, or if you have any questions or concerns about your baby’s development.
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: May 2022
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Resources for Infant Educarers®Resources for Infant Educarers® (RIE®)
Parent-Infant Guidance: RIE Certified Parent-Infant Guidance classes are designed to provide an environment where babies can be attentive, active, exploring and aware of self and others.
Pasadena Schedule
Monday
Instructor: Kira Solomatova
– 12:30 Young toddler (pre-walking/walking)
Tuesday
Instructor: Kira Solomatova
– 9:30 Toddler (pre-walking/newly walking/walking)
Wednesday
Instructor: Ruth Anne Hammond
– 9:30 Young Toddler (pre-walking/newly walking/walking)
Thursday
Instructor: Ruth Anne Hammond
– 9:30 Toddler (newly walking/walking)
– 1:30 Young Infant (pre or newly mobile) *new class forming!
Saturday
Instructor: Kira Solomatova
– 9:30 Toddler (newly walking/walking) *WAITLIST ONLY
– 12:30 Older infant (mobile)*ONE spot left!
Sunday
Instructor: Jill Getto Lee
– 9:30 Older Toddler (walking)
– 12:30 Young Toddler (newly walking/walking)
Hollywood Schedule
Tuesday
Instructor: Wendy Kronick
– 11:00 Young toddler (mobile/newly walking)
Wednesday
Instructor: Wendy Kronick
– 9:30 Older Toddler (walking)
Thursday
Instructor: Jill Getto Lee
– 12:30 infant (mobile) *new class forming
Saturday
Instructor: Ida Reid
– 10:00 Toddler (newly walking/walking)
-12:30 Young Infant (pre-mobile/mobile) *new class forming
– 3:00 Older Toddler (walking) *WAITLIST ONLY
Sunday
– 12:00 Young infant (pre-mobile/newly mobile)* ONE spot left!
Our online classes are facilitated by a certified RIE Associates where small groups of no more than 8 families of similarly-aged children come together to discuss relevant developmental topics. Enroll in one of our online classes from anywhere in the world! Classes are for parents of newborn to preschool-age.
- Online class information
- Access our free orientation videos
- Check out our FAQs
- Send questions to [email protected]
- Register now
Monday
12:30 PM Parents of older toddlers/young preschoolers (28 – 47 months)
Wednesday
6:00 PM Parents of young toddlers (14 to 15 months)
Thursday
10:30 AM Parents of older infants (9 to 10 months)
7:00 PM Parents of young preschoolers (20 to 28 months)
Friday
9:30 AM Parents of toddlers (13 to 22 months)
Saturday
10:00 AM Young infants (newborn to 7 months)
11:30 AM Parents of preschoolers (23 to 30 months) *WAITLIST ONLY
Sunday
11:30 AM Parents of preschoolers (29 to 39 months)
**All times listed are in the Pacific time zone.
We have several class options for parents and professionals that support our mission: To improve the lives of infants and toddlers through respectful care.
Introduction to Educaring: This 3-hour course offers an overview of Educaring, instructed by a certified RIE® Associate. Topics include trust in the child, the guidelines of sensitive caregiving, facilitating optimal development through play, and communicating respect for children through our everyday interactions.
Before Baby: An introductory online course for those expecting, waiting to adopt, or thinking about becoming a parent, Before Baby™ is designed to start you on your journey with confidence in yourself as a parent and trust in your baby’s unique ability to show you the way.
Nurturing Nanny: This course is for in-home caregivers and offers knowledge and practical suggestions that can help make this work easier and more enjoyable, resulting in advantages for the infants and young children who receive professional care.
RIE Foundations: Theory and Observation: This professional development course is offered online, at our Los Angeles based RIE Center and throughout the world. It is designed to enhance the skills and competencies of parents, and professionals who work in the field of infant care, teach in a college environment, work with parents, or train students in infant care and development.
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Magda Gerber founded RIE® in 1978
“The infant Magda showed us is so much more; she showed us that a baby is a miracle, a whole person, who, with our deeply attentive care, unfolds into a wonder, unique in the world. She taught us to wait, to watch without preconception, to observe with genuine curiosity, to see what the baby was trying to tell us. She gave us new eyes through which to see, not the infant we have in mind, but the actual infant before us, and to respond quietly, gently, slowly to its cues and initiations, and to respond not only to its needs but its competencies as well. ” — RuthAnne Hammond, M.A., and Deborah Greenwald, M.A., RIE® Associates
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“Observe more, do less, enjoy most.” -Magda Gerber
Infantile hemangioma: methods of treatment of infantile hemangioma
Infantile hemangioma, also called infantile, is a fairly common skin pathology that occurs in children. This is a benign formation that is present in newborns or may appear in an infant in the first months of life. In most cases, this vascular formation does not require treatment. But sometimes the need to remove the pathology is due to its large size or anatomical location. For example, an extensive infantile hemangioma on the face can lead to problems with vision, muscle development. And it can also cause increased attention of others to the child, which will subsequently develop into complexes.
Medical statistics: Infantile hemangioma occurs in 5% of term infants and 20% of preterm infants. This type of vascular pathology is more common in girls than in boys.
Causes of infantile hemangioma
Causes of formation such as infantile hemangioma are due to oxygen deficiency, its non-receipt in the required volumes by blood vessels. Scientists among the causes of the development of pathology call placental insufficiency, multiple pregnancy, infectious diseases, unstable hormonal levels and anemia in the mother during childbearing.
Clinical picture
Most often, infantile hemangioma appears in the first days after birth. The first symptom is the expansion of the vessels of the skin in a small area of the body. It manifests itself as a bright spot with protruding capillaries in the middle. The first stage of education development can take several months. At this time, it grows. After 3-4 months, the neoplasm becomes bright red. When the baby is stressed, for example, screaming, taking a hot bath, the spot looks swollen. At the next stage, the growth of education slows down. At the age of 12 months, the spot stops growing. Then the stage of involution begins.
Spot brightens, decreases in size. In nine out of ten cases, self-healing occurs. By the age of 9, the formation may completely disappear. More precisely, the neoplasm acquires skin color. In some cases, a bright spot, a scar, remains at the site of the pathology.
Classification of formations of this species
Formations of this species may be single or multiple. Neoplasms are localized on any parts of the skin and mucous membranes. Doctors divide children’s hemangiomas into the following types:
- Local form accounts for 90% of all cases. Education has clear boundaries. Hemangioma grows from one point. Local neoplasms are superficial, not germinating in tissues, deep subcutaneous and combined, growing on the surface of the skin and in its depths.
- The segmental form of pathology is characterized by an extensive size. Such formations appear much less often than local ones. They are not visible at birth, but appear quickly in the first weeks of life. When a segmental form is detected, a thorough examination of the child is recommended, since pathology is often evidence of serious health problems.
- A special form of formation is called “congenital”, since the baby is born with an already fully formed formation. A feature of the disease is complete self-healing by the third year of life.
- Congenital non-vanishing hemangioma is present in the baby at the time of birth, but does not disappear over the years. Its feature is a constant size. The growth does not grow or decrease over time.
As a rule, education does not bother babies. However, in some cases, the physiological location of the hemangioma requires mandatory treatment. For example, if the pathology is located in the eye area, it can reduce vision, if it appears on the face, difficulties may arise with the correct functioning of facial muscles. Hemangioma on the ear leads to deformation of the shell, its increase. Deep hemangioma of the external genitalia leads to ulceration of the skin. And this is fraught with the addition of a secondary infection.
Diagnosis of infantile hemangioma
The diagnosis is established after clinical examination. When diagnosing pathology, the doctor must identify the hemangioma, excluding other tumor and vascular diseases (fiery nevus, pyogenic granuloma, vascular malformations and other neoplasms). The doctor also determines the stage of the disease. Angiography, evaluation of blood flow, and a blood coagulation test may be required to clarify the child’s condition. As a rule, histology is not performed for this anomaly.
Treatment of infantile hemangioma
The decision to treat infantile hemangioma is made by the parents after consultation with a dermatologist. If the formation grows in an uncomplicated area of the body, does not impede vital functionality, there is no need for treatment. Dynamic observation will be sufficient in order not to miss dangerous complications. Expectant tactics provides for regular monitoring by a doctor with fixing changes.
Important: Parents often worry that education is growing, and the pediatrician or dermatologist is not treating her. With children’s hemangiomas, this tactic is justified, since there is a high probability of self-healing with minimal aesthetic complications.
With the growth of a neoplasm in difficult areas (the area of the eyes, lips, nose, genitals), it is necessary to remove the formation. This measure helps to prevent health problems in the future.
Effective methods of anomaly removal are laser therapy, cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen freezing), surgery. The use of liquid nitrogen and surgery are inferior to laser therapy, as only it gives a highly effective result without side effects and complications. An experienced doctor can easily control the intensity and depth of the beam exposure. After the operation, there are no scars and scars. The procedure is performed without general anesthesia. It is also important that laser treatment eliminates the risk of bleeding, infection. But in each case, the approach to choosing a treatment method is determined by the doctor, taking into account the expected effectiveness and risks.
Important: Laser treatment of infantile hemangiomas has a good prognosis. Education disappears without a trace. To see this, just look at the photo of the skin of our little patients before and after the operation.
Treatment of infantile hemangiomas in Kharkiv
Mole Diagnostic Center “Lazersvit” offers diagnostics, observation and removal of infantile hemangiomas by laser method. We invite you to sign up for a consultation with a dermatologist if you have found this pathology in your child. The doctor will conduct an examination, determine the type of disease, and evaluate whether it is necessary to treat the formation in a particular small patient.
Important: Urgent surgery is required if hemangioma is bleeding. A vascular formation may begin to bleed spontaneously or with trauma. In this case, laser therapy becomes the fastest, safest, most effective way of treatment.
Our clinic in Kharkov is the best specialized center, the advantages of which are qualified personnel. We use a modern laser for the treatment of various skin pathologies and demonstrate reasonable prices for all procedures.
Infantile hemangioma — SPb GBUZ KDCD
Infantile (infantile) hemangioma is a benign vascular tumor that can be congenital in a child, or grow in the first weeks of his life. (International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies)
Infantile hemangiomas occur in about 3% to 5% of full-term newborns and in about 22% of preterm infants whose birth weight was less than 1 kg. Girls are affected about three times more often than boys. Infantile hemangiomas that grow in only one limited area (local hemangioma)
are much more common – 90% of cases than extensive hemangiomas (segmental hemangiomas) – 10% involution (stop growth, or stabilization ),
Classification:
Type:
- Surface
- Deep Mixed
(surface + deep) - Reticular (abortive)
- with minimal growth, etc.
Shape:
- Focal
- Multiple
- Segmental
- Borderline
Special forms:
- congenital rapidly self-limiting hemangioma;
- congenital non-involving;
- benign neonatal hemangiomatosis;
Treatment:
Options
- drug treatment with beta-blockers (drug propranalol)
- laser therapy
- cryotherapy
- surgery
If the hemangioma grows in a simple anatomical area of the body and it does not limit vital functions (for example, hemangiomas on the arms, legs, trunk), then there is no need for treatment.
If they grow rapidly in complex critical areas, then they must be treated to avoid complications. For example, infantile hemangioma of the eye area (threat of reduction / loss of vision), lips area (does not completely disappear or disappear slowly) and nose area (in children increased risk of nasal deformity). Main goals of treatment:
- avoid complications associated with a serious cosmetic defect or limitation of vital functions
- treat necrosis (hemangiomas ulceration),
- slow down/stop the growth of hemangiomas,
- accelerate the recovery process of large infantile hemangiomas.
The examination and management protocol consists of 4 steps.
At stage I, indications for systemic treatment of infantile hemangiomas with propranolol are identified, a basic examination is performed, including an examination of the cardiovascular system, and, in the absence of contraindications, propranolol therapy is prescribed with a gradual dose titration of the drug. In parallel, the presence or absence of undesirable effects during therapy is monitored. One of the most important studies at this stage is ultrasound (the thickness of the vascular formation and the number of vessels are determined; in the Doppler mode, the linear blood flow velocity (LBV) and the resistance index in the feeding and intraparenchymal vessels are evaluated.
Stage II treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis under the supervision of a pediatrician and a pediatric cardiologist. It consists in taking the drug correctly and regularly, adjusting its dose against the background of a changing body weight of the child, conducting regular examinations and photographic documentation.
Stage III – dynamic inpatient examination, which is carried out every 3 months during the entire period of treatment, as well as after its completion. Stage III includes a cardiological and general clinical examination, as well as dynamic ultrasound of the vessels. In addition, the dose of the drug is adjusted, possible undesirable cardiac and extracardiac effects are recorded, and a decision is made on the timing of completion of therapy.
Stage IV begins after discontinuation of propranolol therapy, when the child is again examined. At this stage, it is important to exclude the presence of withdrawal syndrome (relapses).
Laser therapy
Impulse laser on dyes with a ramp lamp (FDPL system)
and IPL pulsed lamp is recommended when infant hemangiymmas, small size and they grow on a limited body of cryotherapy
,
in Germany, cryotherapy is a standard method
treatment for small, flat infantile hemangiomas with a maximum diameter of
1 cm.