Somehow through time, we as a society have forgotten that keeping our babies close to us and feeding them whenever they wanted to be fed is how it was done before we invented cribs, strollers, formula, etc... Comforting them when they cry is what we are wired to do. I have heard from moms who said they wanted to try to let their baby cry themselves to sleep, but after a few seconds it just didn't feel right, that everything inside of her was saying, "I need to comfort my baby, I can't stand to hear this cry for one more second." They then run to comfort their baby. Mothers intuition is strong, so if your instincts are telling you something, there must be something to it. Don't ignore your own instincts.
Unfortunately, a lot of moms are ignoring their own instincts because of this "Spoiled" word. You know what I'm talking about , right? The people who say, "Don't pick up baby every time he cries because then he will start to rely on it and it will make him spoiled." First of all, since when is it a bad thing to have a baby rely on his mother? Don't we as parents want our kids to feel safe, loved, and take comfort in the fact that we will always be there for them? Babies cry because that is their form of survival. That is the only way they physically and mentally know how to communicate with their parents. The people they have come to rely on to meet their needs because they cannot meet those needs themselves. Babies cry for all sorts of reasons, They can be hungry, tired, gassy, want cuddles,uncomfortable temperature, the tag could be bugging them, uncomfortable position, scared, etc... The list goes on. The problem that arises is that many parents will not understand why their baby is crying. They think, "They were just fed and have a clean diaper so what can baby possibly want? I think he is crying for no good reason, but to drive me nuts. He must be crying just to manipulate me into getting all my attention focused on him. If I comfort him for that reason then that might spoil him so he needs to learn that I will only attend to cries when I think he REALLY needs me." Here is the thing, babies will always need you.
A baby who cries, even for no good reason other than to cry is still a baby communicating. I know it can get frustrating, especially when in your mind all of baby's needs are met. Their need in that moment could simply be that they miss you and want you close, even if you only left the room five minutes ago.Just remind yourself it's communication not manipulation and it definitely will not spoil them to respond to them.
