Parents get crazy advice. Have you ever been told that “Some babies just don’t sleep“?
That’s so crazy! Babies desperately need sleep and may need special help learning sleep skills. I helped a family of 6 kids not sleeping and their doctor told their mom that her kids just don’t sleep. –As if it was natural and normal! I had her kids sleeping in about 6 weeks.
Have you ever been told “Your baby is playing you.”? “So let him cry it out.”
Manipulation is far too complex an emotion for a baby. (That’s more of a teenager thing.)
It’s just ’cause and effect’. Your baby has figured out that when he does this, you do that. So gently change your response and they will change their behavior. If your baby cries that way and you come running, they have learned to cry that way to get you to come running. It’s not a bad thing at all. At night, starting with bedtime, gently change how you respond depending on the situation to get a different behavior from your child.
It’s not rocket science. It’s behavioral science. It’s always great to be there for your child but you don’t have to give them everything they want.
My kids want chocolate for breakfast. Yeah, I don’t think so. But I am definitely going to be giving them breakfast, just not the one they think they want. Except maybe on their birthday.
Thank you so much for your last post!!! I have an almost three year old who never had trouble sleeping and an almost eight month old who is almost sleeping through the night! ( most of the night she wakes up one time!) My hubby and the pediatrician have told me she is “milking me”! ( quote from the dr!) I really appreciate the point you make about manipulation, an 8 month old, who’s only way of communicating is crying, can’t maliciously think about how to make my night short! (Besides she is working on four teeth!) I understand a healthy sleep habit is important! And I also understand that at this point most babies do sleep through the night but I also think every child is an individual and come to there milestones at there own time! Sorry for this little vent! I really sincerely just wanted to say thank you for saying what you did because even though my dr is great not everything he learned in med school applies to real life! You experienced real life and I am sure that in some level you could or might relate to me! So thank you again! Sincerely, Antigone