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Each baby is different

Your baby is born with an individual temperament. Temperament has a number of characteristics, each of which varies across a wide range.

Sometimes undemanding babies are labelled as "good" and those who are more difficult to care for as "bad". Babies are neither good nor bad; they are themselves.

Over the next year you will come to know your baby well. Your task is to become familiar on your baby's unique temperament or personality. This can take time. By watching closely you can learn to care for your baby in ways that are effective and satisfying for all of you.

Compare Dad's Answers Mum's Answers Where does your baby fit on the spectrum? Roll over the spectrum and click to place an arrow:   How does your baby respond to new people or situations? Very confident Tentative and uncertain   How predictable is your baby; for example, does she wake at the same time every day? Regular Unpredictable and irregular   Does your baby cooperate, or squirm and fuss while being dressed or bathed? Placid Lively or irritable   How easily soothed or comforted is your baby? Easily and quickly comforted Cannot be comforted   Does your baby look at a toy or other object of interest for a sustained period of time? Easily frustrated Calm, not easily disturbed   Does your baby react strongly to new experiences? Highly active and very intense Less active, calmer reactions Where does your baby fit on the spectrum? Roll over the spectrum and click to place an arrow:   How does your baby respond to new people or situations? Very confident Tentative and uncertain   How predictable is your baby; for example, does she wake at the same time every day? Regular Unpredictable and irregular   Does your baby cooperate, or squirm and fuss while being dressed or bathed? Placid Lively or irritable   How easily soothed or comforted is your baby? Easily and quickly comforted Cannot be comforted   Does your baby look at a toy or other object of interest for a sustained period of time? Easily frustrated Calm, not easily disturbed   Does your baby react strongly to new experiences? Highly active and very intense Less active, calmer reactions Where does your baby fit on the spectrum? Roll over the spectrum and click to place an arrow:   How does your baby respond to new people or situations? Very confident Tentative and uncertain   How predictable is your baby; for example, does she wake at the same time every day? Regular Unpredictable and irregular   Does your baby cooperate, or squirm and fuss while being dressed or bathed? Placid Lively or irritable   How easily soothed or comforted is your baby? Easily and quickly comforted Cannot be comforted   Does your baby look at a toy or other object of interest for a sustained period of time? Easily frustrated Calm, not easily disturbed   Does your baby react strongly to new experiences? Highly active and very intense Less active, calmer reactions

Learning from your answers

If your baby is easily distressed or not easily comforted or has sleeping and feeding patterns that vary a lot from day to day, then a caretaking routine is likely to be helpful. This means that each day is structured to follow a similar pattern, and that consistent ways of feeding, soothing, bathing and playing with the baby are used.

This can be difficult when it feels as though nothing is working, but research and health professionals' experience have shown the strategies described in the following sections to be effective. It is important not to label your baby as being "good" or "bad".