Stressed Parents? Baby See, Baby Do.

Have you ever seen a child fall down, and then look towards his or her parent before breaking into tears? In that moment, it seems as though the child is trying to determine the appropriate response to the situation before he or she reacts. According to this article from WebMD, this assumption is not only true, but has broader implications about children’s bond with their parents’ emotions.

In a study conducted at Duke University, babies were separated from their mothers while the women performed a series of stressful tests. When reunited with their mothers, the babies began to exhibit stressed behaviors, as well. “From birth, infants pick up on emotional cues from others.” says DR. Jennifer E. Lansford. The article outlines the different forms of stress, and explains how certain forms can be beneficial to children. It also provides a number of helpful ways to combat forms of toxic stress.

Read more here!