Holding my newborn son for the first time, I was overwhelmed with a head full of revelations that had never occurred to me until that first little touch. One of the most intimidating was a sudden responsibility I shared with only one other person: Make this naive and innocent child feel safe in a totally unfamiliar world.

I suddenly realized how little I really understood about the word "security." After all, in my mind, security meant a steady income, a car that could get me to work, a solid lock on the door at night, a clean bill of health. To the little angel I held, security was much more abstract, since everything he would encounter for the first time would be both a potential fascination and a potential threat - including me.

It seemed like too much for any two people to handle at the time - especially considering the unfamiliarity, worry and exhaustion that lay ahead - but it turned out to be very simple. Over the first few months of life, he quickly learned what sensations should startle him and which should soothe him. Our only job was to give him as much soothing and comfortable stimulation as we could, while offsetting his fears with assurance that we would always be there to soothe them away.

Experts say that a secure baby is one who can find a balance between curiosity and calm - confident enough to explore and discover, but calm enough to trust that a mother's touch and gentle whisper mean that his little world is totally in her control.

But how do you achieve this balance? It surely isn't as simple as touching and shooshing. After all, even a calm and curious baby can sometimes become suddenly frightened or overwhelmed. Here are a few tips for providing that sense of security when your little one is trying to make sense of the world.

KEEP THEM CLOSE
Physical closeness offers a newborn both physical and emotional security. Swaddling our baby and letting him sleep in our laps or next to us meant he rarely woke frightened or upset. In the early weeks and months, establishing that bond - the idea that you are always there - allows a newborn to focus on learning about this new world, trusting that you will intercept the threats, and that anything you allow to contact them is indeed safe.

SMILE, TALK, PLAY, SING
Interacting with your baby by talking, playing, singing and cuddling does much more than simply keep them quiet and entertained. Research shows that the brain begins developing very rapidly just days after birth. In that

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