Babies, pregnancy and birth

Pregnancy

Children may show interest in babies when they become toddlers and outgrow the infant years themselves. They may be curious about who babies are and what they do. Preschool children may want to be responsible for babies by caring for and playing with them.

Babies can be a deeply emotional subject (both exciting and scary) for children expecting a new sibling. Early childhood educators can support children, mothers and families through this journey.

EYLF learning outcomes

A child's interest in babies links with the Early Years Learning Framework. Older children can learn to show care, empathy and respect for babies (1.4).

Babies can also help older children realise how their own autonomy and sense of agency has increased (1.2): "Look how much I have learned since I was a baby!"

Learning experiences

Start a project about babies

Children's Campus (St. Ambrose University, USA) completed a project about babies, as the preschool children showed an intense interest.

Their teacher writes: "I talked with parents and invited them to express any concerns that they might have with the sensitivity of the topic. When any of them had a question, I walked them through what I was planning to do. The main concern that parents expressed regarded terminology. They wanted to be sure that I planned to use child-friendly vocabulary."

  • The project started by gathering and documenting children's existing knowledge. They set up a "word wall" with words associated with babies and made a long list of questions.
  • The children investigated various baby accessories (e.g. prams, bassinets, bottles) to learn more about them. They even made their own. An educator brought in a rocker but didn't tell the children what it was, so they could work it out themselves.
  • A book was read about the stages of fetal development and children drew pictures.
  • Children used Google to research information.

Penola Casa in Queensland conducted a similar project about babies. The children researched and contributed their own insights, expressed their thoughts through drawings, and made a paper mache belly.

They reflected on questions like:

  • Can both girls and boys have babies?
  • How do babies get into the belly?
  • Do you need to be married to have a baby?
  • What does it mean to be a mum?

Extend your dramatic play area

Groups of children interested in baby dolls may need extra space. Extend your home corner and add real-life baby equipment like a cot, high chair, nappy change mat, baby capsule, carrier, bibs, nappies, and feeding utensils.

Teach children how to feed baby dolls, put them to sleep safely, and wrap them in a muslin. Watch a video demonstrating a baby wrapping technique on Raising Children.

Spend time with babies

  • Arrange for older children to spend time in the babies room.
  • Invite parents to visit your room with their infant, to show the baby and answer the children's questions.
  • Teach the children etiquette and safe interactions beforehand.

Make baby toys

Extend the learning to the design and manufacturing of children's toys:

  • Discuss the types of toys babies might have and where parents get them from.
  • Read baby toy catalogues.
  • What makes a really good toy? Talk about safety, fun and education.
  • Encourage the children to make a toy and give it to a baby. Homemade rattles are easy to make, even for toddlers.

Hatch chickens

Participate in a chicken-hatching program that brings an incubator to your service. Children can see fertilised eggs hatch over a two-week period and experience the joy of newborn baby chicks.

Interactions

How to respond appropriately to questions

The Interest Forest consulted with a wide range of early childhood educators before writing this page. We asked for appropriate responses to a child asking how babies are made. There were many conflicting opinions! Here are some suggestions:

  • "This is a great question to ask mum or dad."
  • "Babies can be made in many different ways. Your parents might tell you more."
  • "What do you think the answer is?" They may already know or be satisfied with their own ideas.
  • "That's an important question. How do you think you could find out?"
  • Change the subject and use distraction.

Resources

Picture books

  • There's A House Inside My Mummy by Giles Andreae and Vanessa Cabban
  • Baby Business by Jasmine Seymour
  • On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman
  • Hello Baby by Jenni Overend and Julie Viva
  • Global Babies by The Global Fund for Children
  • You Were the First by Patricia MacLachlan
  • Hi New Baby by Harris Robbie H and Emberly Michael

Music

Teeny Tiny Stevies: Baby in Mum's tummy

Websites