Children's Needs – Parenting Capacity - Digital Education Resource ...

112 Children’s Needs – Parenting Capacity‘The primary task to be accomplished during the first year of life is for the baby todevelop trust in others’ (Fahlberg 1991, p.64). This is achieved when a baby’s needsare regularly satisfied by a familiar carer. A baby’s temperament, which may becomeapparent soon after birth, will affect the parents’ or carers’ reactions, but regardlessof temperament, the key to good outcomes is the parents’ capacity to adapt andrespond appropriately to their baby’s emotional and developmental needs (Belskyet al. 1998).Attachment begins during the first year of life, and the major characteristic of thisrelationship is the presence of a consistent person who is able to reduce the baby’sanxiety in stressful situations. Babies who become securely attached feel sufficientlyconfident to explore their world (Bowlby 1973). The process of attachment is notconfined to a single adult. Babies can develop secure attachments to more than oneadult as long as they are constant figures in the baby’s life (Bowlby 1973; Rutter1995; Thoburn 1996).Possible impact on emotional and behavioural developmentThere are two main ways in which parents’ problems may impact on babies’ emotionaland behavioural development. Attachment may be affected by the treatment babiesneed to counteract the effects of maternal drug and alcohol consumption duringpregnancy, and by parental moods and displays of anger.The effects of drugs and alcohol on the mother and the newborn baby can impacton the immediate bonding process in a number of ways. Babies may need to beplaced in special care units, thus separating them from the immediate presence oftheir mother. The treatment for withdrawal symptoms in hospital may result inbabies being sleepy and unresponsive to their mothers. These babies are at greaterrisk of attachment problems than other babies (Fahlberg 1991). Similarly, womenwho decide to undergo a process of rapid drug reduction or abstinence may find itdifficult to respond appropriately to their baby. Over the last 10 years, the care fornewborn babies suffering from opiate withdrawals has improved, due in part to moreaccurate withdrawal-symptom control with fewer side effects. In some parts of theUnited Kingdom foetal withdrawal syndrome is now mainly treated by enhancedclose physical contact rather than the use of psychoactive drugs.Because babies have little sense of self, they are very dependent on their parentsor key carers for their psychological well-being (Fahlberg 1991). To a great extentthe baby’s emotions and subsequent behaviours are related to the moods and actionsof those who are looking after them. Consequently, the depressed affect, emotionalwithdrawal and unpredictable mood swings that frequently accompany problemdrinking or drug use, mental illness, learning disability or domestic violence maybe mirrored by the baby. Babies and infants who are regularly rejected come to seethemselves as unloved and unlovable (Fahlberg 1991).