Content:
The NBO is an infant-focused, family-centered, relationship-building intervention and framework
designed to engage parents with their baby’s competencies and individuality, foster sensitive
caregiving, and contribute to the development of a positive parent-infant relationship from the
very beginning.
Is strength-based and guided by the principle that the quality of early experiences drives brain
development and functional outcomes.
Elicits and describes the infant’s capacities so that parents see their baby as a person, better
appreciate their baby’s unique competencies and vulnerabilities, and learn to understand and
respond to their baby in a way that meets their child’s unique needs.
Is comprised of up to 18 activities, including observations of the infant’s capacity to habituate to
external light and sound stimuli (sleep protection); the quality of motor tone and activity level;
the capacity for self-regulation (including crying and consoling); response to stress (indices of
the infant’s threshold for stimulation), and the infant’s visual, auditory, and social-interactive
capacities as shown in their degree of alertness and response to both human and inanimate
stimuli.
Is flexible so it can easily be integrated into a range of clinical practices. It can be used in
hospital, clinic, or home visit settings by pediatric professionals such as nurses, doctors,
psychologists, social workers, midwives, physical and occupational therapists, doulas, child life
specialists, lactation specialists, home visitors, and other early intervention professionals.
While the NBO is designed for use up to approximately three months corrected gestational
age, many of its principles carry over into work with older infants, children, and parents.
How NBO training works
NBO training is offered in three levels. We will be working on Level 1 (core content workshop)
– Pre-work consisting of viewing four short videos with reflection prompts, and
review of the administration manual (Chapter 3 of the NBO handbook)
– Participation in an in-person or virtual live NBO training workshop (two full
days or three partial days)
Biography:
Home of the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) and the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) system, the Brazelton Institute is dedicated to promoting the healthy development of infants and families through a deep respect for each newborn’s personhood and capacity to communicate their needs from the very beginning.
The Brazelton Institute recognizes that parents and families have the central and primary role in ensuring the health and well-being of their children. However, we believe that the many professionals who interact with families are significant partners in supporting parents in this endeavor.