It's impossible to spoil a baby.
Every time you attend to a crying baby they create a neural pathway that tells them they are safe and their needs will be met.
So much of what we do throughout our days seems automatic, like driving to or from work, it can seem mindless.
It seems the car just arrived there without your input.
But, there was a time when that commute was brand new, and your brain worked via repetition to create a pathway, a shortcut in your brain to save mental space and energy.
A baby's survival instinct is so strong that they cling to their mama with all their might and any separation feels like danger to them.
They are simply hardwired to get their basic needs met.
In fact, we've all heard accounts of infants living in neglectful conditions in orphanages where their cries go unheard and unattended and they begin to decline rapidly because they no longer yield to the instinct to survive and thus lose the will to live even though they are being fed.
It may seem like you are spoiling them by constantly responding to their cries, but it is actually making them more and more secure.
They don't yet have the capacity to manipulate, they just know they need to be with their people.
Eventually, the pathway will be so solidly formed that when they are in a situation that feels unsure, the security you've built will kick in and they will remember that you always come back and that they are safe when they are away from you.
In fact, babies who have a secure attachment usually grow up to be quite independent and more trusting in their relationships.
Are there times when holding a fussy baby is exhausting, absolutely, so no judgment if you need to put them in the safety of their crib to self-soothe or if you are training them to sleep on their own.
They will feel secure because they know that you will always come back when they call for you.
If you can, ask someone for help so you can get a much needed break.
Being someone's everything is tiring. 🙂
And babies will learn that so many people adore them; like grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and nannies.
Always listen to your first instinct, if it feels right to let go of the other responsibilities in order to hold your baby while they sleep, you'll never regret yielding to that.
The very same relaxing hormones mothers experience while nursing and that babies experience while being nursed are released when you bottle feed or hold your baby close.
This is why it's important to continue to hold your baby in your arms even once they can navigate holding their bottle themselves.
While they look in your eyes and you into theirs, all these little moments add up to create a deeper bond between you.
There's no better excuse to take a pause and just be present.
There's nothing better than relaxing with them at the end of a long day or allowing that love to wash over you in the early morning hours lowering your cortisol levels for the day ahead.
Aren't babies an incredible gift?
Savor every bit of it while you can, soon enough they are on the move and too busy for cozy snuggles 🥰 ❤️💝
#mom #moms #momsupport #momadvice #momcoach #parentcoach #dad #dads #dadcoach #nanny #nannying #baby #babies #babiesarethebest
No comments:
Post a Comment