The parents were told to leave a settling baby for at least five minutes
before responding to crying, and to
"extend the waiting time a further five minutes for each return visit to
the child."
I wonder how long they end up waiting - is there a time limit at all? what
is this doing to tiny brains? Infant mental health? Longer term mental health.
I am feeling really disheartened at present re the normalisation of leaving
babies to cry - it feels that it is getting worse and worse at younger and
younger ages. I am seeing so much messed up breastfeeding, mums with eroded
confidence, and enormous anxiety about approaching sleep times for
many mums who cant bear to leave their babies to cry - because the are being
taught it is the ONLY option or they will end up with a little terrorist.
The article mentions "sleep performance" . This about says it all. As
though babies are little objects, not little people who learn to love by
being responded to.
Whatever happened to "teaching" a mum that she will know her own babies
cries and she should respond whenever she feels her baby needs her, or
whenever SHE needs her baby - not be guided by an inanimate object like a
clock on a wall.
I would love to know where is the evidence for how long it is "safe" to
leave a baby to cry - on what basis are the 'crying times' decided - ie five
minutes, ten minutes , increasing increments thereof? It seems there are many
variations depending on which article or book you read.
I also wonder -in this study, HOW do they KNOW that
newborns cry because they are tired, not just in pain??
I reckon, cuddles and rocking are instinctive for
mums and necessary for both mum and newborn. Why bother having a baby if
you mustn't give it cuddles?
Pinky
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2005 2:09
AM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] Study suggesting
" stop patting babies to sleep"
Looking forward to Pinky's response to this
one.
Helen Cahill
