Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

Has anyone ever taken part in an infant observation, ie with your baby as the 'observed'?

14 replies

lizzoliz · 07/01/2018 00:10

I see there have been a number of requests on Mumsnet by people doing courses involving an infant observation looking for anyone willing to take part. I am just wondering whether there is anyone out there who actually has taken part in an infant observation, ie as the subject (with baby being observed). And if you did, how did you find the experience?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SockQueen · 07/01/2018 08:57

We did it for a lady doing a play therapy course. We did 30 weeks, am hour a week, from when DS was 6 weeks old. It felt a bit awkward on occasion as he wasn't doing much for many of them, or would be asleep/attached to my boobs for a lot of the time, which I felt must be terribly boring for her! But she was a lovely lady and very grateful that we let her observe him, so I hope she got something out of it.

Original poster

lizzoliz · 07/01/2018 09:35

Hi, thanks for your response. I can imagine that's pretty much how it would be. I'm considering doing a course which involves such an observation but think letting someone into my house to watch me is probably the last thing I'd have wanted to do when I had new babies. Therefore I'm amazed that anyone ever agrees. That's what got me wondering about the experiences of 'the observed'. It seems an amazingly generous thing to do. Was there anything in particular that made you go ahead and offer?

OP posts:

Prusik · 07/01/2018 09:37

My Ds is due next month and someone doing a master's will be observing him once a week. I have an interest in child development and am looking forward to it

Original poster

lizzoliz · 07/01/2018 17:40

Thanks - Well, that's encouraging to know - ie that being observed might be interesting / a positive experience too!

OP posts:

SquirmOfEels · 07/01/2018 17:43

I took mine to the Babylab (at Brikbeck College) a few times. They're nearly always on the look out for babies and toddlers to go for a play (and sometimes older children too, if it's a study that wants to look at whether siblings make a difference)

Santasbigredbobblehat · 07/01/2018 17:45

My two have been, but they were older, 2 and 3. Was fine.

ElizabethLemon · 07/01/2018 19:18

We did it twice but my son wasn’t newborn. It was fine and I found it really interesting. My son is 7 now and we’ve done a few studies at birkbeck too, he likes it because he always gets a gift at the end!

MoseShrute · 07/01/2018 19:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NewSense · 07/01/2018 19:22

I did it with my daughter. Was quite happy to do it, though it was a bit awkward, as we were meant to ignore the student observing us, and it's just a bit weird having someone in the corner of the room who you aren't speaking to for an hour..! And as my daughter was about 1yr old and walking, she kept just wandering over and shoving toys in the face of the observer, not understanding why she wouldn't play with her... So a bit bizarre, but I'd do it again if someone needed to.

Original poster

lizzoliz · 07/01/2018 22:07

Thanks NewSense, I can just imagine!

OP posts:

SockQueen · 08/01/2018 10:32

I'm not sure exactly what made me offer to do it, I was in the new baby haze and saw the post on my local NCT FB group asking if anyone could help, and by coincidence DS was exactly the age they were looking for. I think partly I wanted to give something back as during my medical training lots of patients and families gave their time to help us learn, and I knew how hard it can be to find willing subjects, so thought I'd pass the favour on!

Original poster

lizzoliz · 08/01/2018 19:22

Hi, SockQueen, that's interesting. It is doing someone a major service. I'm really impressed /encouraged that there are people out there who have actually done it and even say they'd do it all over again if someone needed it. So it might be me posting for a volunteer in a few months time.

OP posts:

vasilikip · 27/03/2019 17:03

Any one who participated in an Infant Observation, either as a student or a parent/carer, interested in taking part in a research psychology project? I am looking into the experiences in Infant Observation for both observers and families. I am a postgraduate student studying for a MSc Psychology degree at the School of Psychology, University of East London. As part of my studies, I am conducting the research you are being invited to participate in. I am conducting research into what the experience was like for individuals who took part in an infant observation. The research has been approved by the School of Psychology Research Ethics Committee and follows the standard of research ethics set by the British Psychological Society.
You will be asked to take part in an interview with myself where you will be asked some questions around how you found the experience and you will have the opportunity to talk about your experience.
The interviews could take place at the University or at your home or at another appropriate and convenient location. The interview will be from 45 - 60 minutes and can be adapted to accommodate
your schedule. There is not any reimbursement for your time for the research project. But it would be valuable to understand from you perspective how you found the experience.
If you are interested you can reply directly here or email me on [email protected]
Kind regards,
Vasiliki Papoutsi

SoHotADragonRetired · 27/03/2019 17:27

I would probably have done it if I'd seen someone asking in my area when mine were at the relevant age. My field is psychology and in general I always try and support/participate in research and education if I can easily do so. To me it's an easy way of 'giving back' for the advances in knowledge that we benefit from.

Flip