Babies can’t talk and tell us how they’re feeling, so we have to watch and listen to what they’re doing to understand them.

The world looks different to a baby – it helps to look at things from the baby’s point of view

Things that are safe for us might not be safe for babies.

Babies need different things from other people like different food and different sleep-times.

They also need their nappies changed and for people to show them things and how to do things. But one of the most important things they need is security – feeling loved, and that means cuddles and smiles and paying them attention – nurturing them, so they can grow up happy and healthy. It’s a job for everyone – mum and dad, brothers and sisters, friends and whanau.

Babies don’t have teeth and they can’t digest normal food, they have to have it mushed up for them.

Playing with things is just one way that babies find out about the world.

There are some great reason’s it’s good to have a baby visit your classroom, like learning to understand how someone’s feeling and looking at things from their point of view – that’s a really good skill to have for getting along with anyone, not just babies.

One thing you have in common with me and with all babies is we all need love. Love,  nurturing and looking after !!!!

Some facts about Babies :

The roots of empathy programme where a baby and mother visit your class was developed in Canada and is now in New Zealand run by the Peace Foundation

The Top Baby Names in New Zealand for 2007 were :

Boys (the Top ten)
1. Jack
2. James
3. Joshua
4. Daniel
5. William
6. Oliver
7. Samuel
8. Benjamin
9. Ethan
10. Ryan

And for Girls :
1. Ella
2. Sophie
3. Olivia
4. Emma
5. Charlotte
6. Emily
7. Lily
8. Grace
9. Hannah
10. Isabella

In Australia in 2007 the most popular names were Jack (boys) and Isabella (girls)

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Canadian Anna Bates gave birth to a baby boy who weighed 23 pounds, 12 ounces and was 30 inches long. He was born in 1879,but sadly died before his first birthday.

The lightest baby is Rumaisa Rahman, whose parents are from India, is believed to be the smallest baby ever to survive. With a birth weight of just 8.6 ounces (244 grams) , The Guinness Book of Records lists her as the world's lightest birth... she weighed less than a can of soft drink when born!