0-4 Months: It's About Trust -- Observation Record

What does the baby do when she is with familiar adults?

Right from birth, babies respond to the adults around them with a variety of behaviors. As infants experience life with their families and other caregivers, they get to know the people who care for them, and they become comfortable with them.

The baby might do one or more of the following:

• Make eye contact–gaze into the eyes of her caregiver while being fed.
• Get comfortable–stop crying when she hears a familiar voice or sees a familiar face.
• Enjoy conversation–coo and smile when familiar people talk to her.
• Notice when left–kick her legs and cry when her caregiver goes out of the room.
• Work to draw you in–fuss and wiggle until someone responds, then smile and gurgle.

What are the things this baby does around familiar people? (Include dates.)

How does the baby show awareness of unfamiliar people?

Even in their first few months, some babies respond differently to unfamiliar people. How they respond depends on their personalities, how many different people care for them, and how the new person approaches them.

The baby might do one or more of the following:

• Show her concern–begin to fuss when a new person moves toward her.
• Turn off her smile–stop smiling when a new person takes her out of the arms of her caregiver.
• Wait them out–stop cooing when a new person leans over the crib to talk to her.
• Avoid looking–turn her head into the shoulder of her caregiver when a new person approaches.
• Move away–stiffen and lean away when an unfamiliar person picks her up.

How does this baby act around unfamiliar people? (Include dates.)