Parents have a significant responsibility towards their infants that they cannot shirk away from. A parent cannot seek any waiver legally when it comes to parenting or taking care of one’s child. In today’s time, responsible parenting is all the more important because of the challenges that a child and a family face on a daily basis.
Responsible parenting means that parents are responsible for the child’s overall healthy development. They are responsible for not only the physical wellbeing of their children but also for developing them into refined human beings and endowing them with all the values of life. Responsible parenting goes far beyond physical wellbeing of a child and encompasses emotional and mental wellbeing and healthy development as well.
Father and little daughter having fun painting together
There are some basic needs that only parents can fulfil when the child is young. Parents must ensure that their infants’ basic needs are met, such as providing a safe and clean environment, feeding them appropriately, and ensuring they get enough sleep.
Emotional and physical well-being
Parents are responsible for providing a physically and emotionally safe environment for their infants. This includes taking steps to prevent accidents and protecting them from harm, as well as offering a loving and nurturing environment that promotes healthy emotional development.
Parents must take responsibility for their infants’ health and wellness, which includes regular visits to the paediatrician, following recommended immunisation schedules, and addressing any medical concerns or illnesses that arise.
Cognitive development is crucial for a child’s overall growth and healthy development. Parents should engage in activities that stimulate their infants’ cognitive development, such as reading to them, talking to them, and providing toys and activities that promote learning and exploration.
Social development is another key area that responsible parenting must focus on and it has become very important lately. Parents should support their child’s social development by encouraging positive interactions with others and providing opportunities for socialisation, such as playgroups and day-care programmes.
Parents should support their child’s educational and developmental needs by providing appropriate learning opportunities, such as enrolling them in early education programmes, music or art classes, and other activities that promote cognitive, social, and emotional development.
It is important to note that parents play a crucial role in the child’s development and wellbeing. It is important for parents to prioritise the child’s needs and take responsibility for providing a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment for him or her to thrive.
Communicating with the young
Like most other relationships, communication is the key in a parent-child relationship as well. An important aspect of responsible parenting is establishing a healthy and sound communication with your child. One may feel that an infant doesn’t understand words or language but communication is not always verbal and even in verbal communication a child understands almost everything he or she is communicated.
Communicating with infants is essential for their social, emotional, and cognitive development. One of the best ways to do that is by talking to them. Even though they can’t respond with words, talking to infants is important for their language development. Use simple, repetitive language, and speak in a high-pitched, sing-song voice to capture their attention.
Using facial expressions and gestures is another way to communicate with your child. Infants are very perceptive to facial expressions and gestures and parents are suggested to use these non-verbal cues to communicate emotions and reinforce language.
Communication is a two-way process and responding to the child is equally important. Infants communicate through non-verbal cues, such as crying, cooing, and facial expressions. Responding to these cues by providing comfort or changing the environment can help infants feel more secure and build trust in their caregivers.
Play is an important form of communication for infants. Engaging in simple games such as peek-a-boo, singing, or mimicking sounds and facial expressions is a great way to promote bonding and stimulate their cognitive development. A child is the happiest when he or she is playing and a responsible parent knows how to inculcate good habits, skills and values in the child during playing.
Even though a child may not be able to read, reading to a child happens to be a great way to help infants in language development and promoting a love for books and learning that will help through his or her entire life.
Infants and young children thrive on one-on-one interactions with parents or caregivers. By giving them undivided attention one can establish a great bond with the child. So, when you are communicating with them, make eye contact, respond to their cues, and show interest in their activities.
Contrary to common understanding, an infant or a young child is very perceptive and intelligent. A child knows very well what he or she likes and makes no qualms about it. So, when a child shows interest in a certain object and activity, make sure to follow the lead and use it to build on communication.
Responsible parenting for a new-born
An important part of responsible parenting is taking care of a new-born. A new-born is completely dependent on the parent. Responsible parenting for new-borns takes different dimensions and aspects into consideration as the needs of a new-born are very different. Safety is one of the most important aspects of responsible parenting when it comes to new-borns.
New-borns are fragile and require extra care and attention to prevent accidents. So, one must always place a new-born on their back to sleep, on a firm and flat surface that is free of any soft objects or loose bedding. Using a sleep sack or swaddle to keep them warm works better.
One must always use a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of the car and make sure it is properly installed and fastened. Never leave a new-born alone in a car as it can be life threatening to the child. Also, one must never leave a new-born unattended during bath time and always test the water temperature before placing them in the bath. Keep a hand on the baby at all times and never leave them in the water alone.
A new-born’s head and neck must always be supported when carrying or holding them. Avoid shaking or rough handling, as it can cause serious harm. Make sure to always supervise a new-born during feedings and never prop a bottle or leave a new-born unattended with a bottle. This can lead to choking or aspiration.
One must ensure that the house has been baby-proofed and hazardous objects and materials, such as cleaning supplies, medications, and sharp objects, are kept out of reach of the children. If there are older siblings in the house, make sure they are properly supervised when around a new-born, and teach them how to interact gently and safely with the baby. It’s important to always keep a watchful eye on a new-born and address any concerns or questions with a paediatrician.
Being a responsible parent doesn’t require much. A child is born intelligent with an eagerness to learn new things. Parents can effectively communicate with them and support and enhance their social, emotional, and cognitive development. It’s important to remember that communication with infants and young children is a two-way process, and being attentive and responsive to their cues is essential for building a strong bond and promoting healthy development.