8-12 Months: It's About Trust -- Observation Record

How does the baby show that familiar adults are important to her?

Babies use their new crawling and walking skills to both move away from and return to the adults who care for them. They depend on the presence of these adults to feel safe and to explore their surroundings. Even brief separations may cause them to worry or become distressed.

The baby might do one or more of the following:

• Try to stay connected–attempt to follow her caregiver when he or she leaves the room.
• Enjoy people she knows–show delight when a familiar adult plays peekaboo with her.
• Seek approval–look and wait for a smile from her caregiver before picking up a toy on the rug.
• Read cues–look for her caregiver's reaction before deciding whether to be upset after falling down.
• Look for a secure base–reach for a special person, and no one else, for soothing when she is upset or has hurt herself.

What does this baby do around familiar adults? (Include dates.)

How does the baby respond to unfamiliar adults?

Babies respond differently to people they know and trust than to people they don't know or haven't seen for a while. Though the intensity of behavior varies from child to child, babies this age may show wariness, fear, or worry when around new adults.

The baby might do one or more of the following:

• Stop short–halt exploration or play to watch intently when a new person enters the room.
• Send out distress signals–cry inconsolably when her parents leave her with a new baby-sitter or caregiver.
• Seek familiar comfort–crawl to a caregiver for support when a new person tries to talk to her.
• Be unsure–seem worried about people she previously smiled at.
• Reject someone new–kick her legs and cry even harder when someone new tries to pick her up after she has fallen down.

What are some of the things this baby does around unfamiliar adults? (Include dates.)