La posibilidad del habitar el mundo de manera personal, como lo refiere Winnicott depende de diversos factores. Uno de ellos, es el de la presencia del cuidado, sobre todo, en las primeras etapas de la vida. El amparo y el sostén vital son posibilitares del despliegue de las potencialidades del infante y con las que conformará su mundo. Esta función depende del otro y de la confianza que sobre este vínculo se asiente, construyendo un espacio de cuidado. Así entendido, los aportes winnicottianos sobre las etapas tempranas remiten a que la existencia surge en relación con. Este vínculo no refiere a una razón meramente operativa, sino, además, ética. Palabras clave Winnicott - Amparo - Don ABSTRACT IDENTITY DIMENSIONS OF THE SELF: REFUGE AND GIFT FROM A WINNICOTTIAN PERSPECTIVE The possibility of inhabiting the world in a personal way, as Winnicott refers to it, depends on various factors. One of them is the presence of care, especially in the first stages of life. Protection and vital support enable the development of the infant’s potential and with which he will shape her world. This function depends on the other and on the trust that is based on this bond, building a space of care. Understood in this way, the Winnicottian contributions on the early stages refer to the fact that existence arises in relation to. This link does not refer to a merely operational reason, but also an ethical one. Keywords Winnicott - Refuge - Gift