'What do babies think?' - Life at 1 by Monika Marinkovic

Consider the Case of Anastasia and briefly describe her circumstance

marinkovicmonika10 — 2018-06-27 23:31:21 UTC

- Anastasia has spent the first year of her life only in contact with her direct family
- The only people she has come into close contact with is her parents and grand parents
- Her mum works in sales, and her dad is a fireman working 48 hours a week. They take it in turns to look after their child depending on their work schedule.
- Whenever she is taken outside her comfort zone or away from the familiar, she will cry
- Although Anastasia is getting plenty of 'human interaction', she is not receiving enough 'social interaction'.

What stress factors influence Anastasia's day to day?

marinkovicmonika10 — 2018-06-27 23:32:06 UTC

- Being only taken care of by immediate family
- Not interacting with unfamiliar scenarios/people
- When introduced to new and uncomfortable situations Anastasia found it quite hard to adapt and would cry until she was with her mum.

What factors might protect Anastasia's mental health?

sema88 — 2018-06-27 23:32:25 UTC

It is important for Anastasia's physical needs to be met, but it's actually the emotional needs and sensitive responsively from her parents that is the keystone for good outcomes in the long term.

What does Anastasia's cortisol levels indicate?

marinkovicmonika10 — 2018-06-27 23:32:56 UTC

- Anastasia’s cortisol levels indicate her level of stress.
- This is because cortisol is the stress hormone in the human body, and the higher cortisol levels you have, the more stressed you will feel.
- High levels of stress that are not moderated in this critical period of early brain development can have short-term consequences, but importantly long-term consequences, (Malcolm and Willis 2016).

Direct Quote

callthelocal — 2018-06-27 23:34:36 UTC

“From the moment Kathy hands Anastasia over to her godmother, immediately begins to cry as soon as she is handed to her godmother, someone she’s spent very little time with, the sobbing starts” (Life at 1: Episode 1 (Stress), 2006, 13min51sec)

References

lucy_mclennan — 2018-06-27 23:42:06 UTC

DeJeu, E, How To Handle Your Baby or Toddler’s Separation Anxiety and Sleep. The Baby Sleep Site - Baby Sleep Help | Toddler Sleep Help, viewed 28 June 2018, https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/baby-toddler-sleep-separation-anxiety/

Huggies, Separation anxiety in babies, viewed 28 June 2018,

Life at 1: Episode 1 (Stress) 2006, online video, Film Australia National Interest Program in association with Heiress Films, viewed 28 May 2018 .

Malcolm, L and Willis, O 2016, How to care for infant mental health, viewed 28 June 2018,
<http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/how-to-care-for-infant-mental-health/7430950>

Our group opinion

lucy_mclennan — 2018-06-27 23:46:30 UTC

- We believe that even though she is still only 1, she should have slightly more interaction with other family. This could be cousins, aunties, uncles etc.
- This is important for her brain development and social skills.
- It will also help her be more comfortable with the unfamiliar.
- If she continues to be kept in this small social group, she will have trouble later in life, specifically when she begins any formal education
- If Anastasia interacted with other infants her age, her separation anxiety overtime will lessen.

sema88 — 2018-06-27 23:48:06 UTC

lucy_mclennan — 2018-06-27 23:56:57 UTC

Symptoms of Separation Anxiety in Infants

lucy_mclennan — 2018-06-28 00:05:59 UTC

An infant who cries, sobs or whimpers when left alone or handed to someone that is unfamiliar are classic signs of separation anxiety in a baby.

- It is important when dealing with separation anxiety in babies to NEVER sneak off from the child. This will cause bigger problems as the child will fear that parents are 'vanishing' instead announce that the parent is leaving is the better alternative.