Infancy (0-2 years

Reliance on Others for Coping ■ reflexes develop into patterns of linked behaviour o infant learns that crying results in attention from the caregiver and therefore cries when in need relies heavily on caregiver to regulate their internal and external environment to reduce distress o coping is mainly achieved via the caregiver when distressed the infant seeks contact, comfort and social support from their caregiver via crying (see

Attachment) o seeks and reaches for caregiver for comfort and/or to escape the stressful situation o soothed by caregiver’s responses (e.g. touch, skin to skin contact, stroking, massage, warmth, holding, cuddling, ‘snuggling in’, rocking, soothing vocalisations, feeding) o from approximately 12 months will be ‘emotionally refuelled’ by caregiver when upset, tired or angry, sitting on their lap and cuddling for a few minutes to calm down may shy away or hide face when threatened or overwhelmed social referencing occurs from around 9 months acquires new information about objects, environments and the effects of their own and others’ actions via play (see Play)

Independent Coping Strategies ■ engages in some self-soothing behaviours (e.g. sucking thumb, stroking) may have a comfort object (e.g. toy or blanket) development of locomotion allows the infant to move away from/escape an undesirable situation o gaze aversion decreases and turning/moving towards another object increase language development allows for the child to express their needs in words from around 15 months (see

Language Development) Social referencing When in an unfamiliar situation the infant looks to the caregiver and gauges their emotional reaction. They then use this information to inform their own response