Felicity Dewsbery

Is it possible to spoil your baby by being too responsive? The short answer is no. Somewhere along the way, we developed the notion that letting babies “cry it out” was good for them. In reality, it’s just the opposite. Warm and responsive relationships help infants develop trust, attachment, and a sense of security… which, in turn, lead to self-reliance and the ability to regulate’s one’s own emotions. These abilities have been linked to higher self-esteem, improved stress management, healthier relationships, and even superior academic performance. This lovely video, shared to IG by previvor2survivor states the case beautifully. This is probably an opportune time for a reminder that parenting is not an all or nothing proposition. It’s impractical to think that even the most attentive parent will be able to respond instantly to EVERY cry. And within the context of a warm and responsive relationship, that’s just fine. In finite amounts, opportunities for your baby to self-soothe can be beneficial. But if you’ve been convinced that responding too often to your infant’s expressions of need is the path to spoiling, think again. Infants can’t be spoiled by love. It’s just that simple.