Re: [ozmidwifery] Study suggesting " stop patting babies to sleep"

Fri, 11 Mar 2005 03:43:38 -0800

I have passed the report article onto Robyn Grille , a Sydney psychologist and board member of AAIMHi (Australian Association of infant mental health). 
 
I think we have a widespread belief that babies need to be "taught" to sleep - hence sleep school - there really is a lot of fear  that if parents dont do SOMETHING, their babies will never sleep, I also wonder if with so much pressure, many women think there will be a magic answer to what could be adjustment difficulties - not necessarily baby problems ie if they 'fix' the baby, my life will be happy/ predictable / sorted.
 
Really, its ar###se about: if the mother feels nurtured, usually the baby settles nicely.
 
Of course sleep schools are great revenue for hospitals too.
 
Mind you, there are a couple at least that are gentle - Rosebud  and South Eastern Private. Any others that dont do controlled crying?
 
Pinky
www.pinky-mychild.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Ken WArd
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 1:38 AM
Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] Study suggesting " stop patting babies to sleep"

I am getting very concerned about all the babies going to 'sleep school'. 
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Pinky McKay
Sent: Friday, 11 March 2005 5:28 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Study suggesting " stop patting babies to sleep"

Hi Helen
what do you think my response will be?
 
Actually its utter frustration that once again, normative abuse is being promoted as the answer to parents prayers and fear is the 'big stick' - fear of abuse, divorce -  why have babies at all - they obviously cause mayhem in your life.  
 
 
For SIX WEEK OLD babies:

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
 

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