should intervene and when you need to hold back. What is this called? It
is called parental assessment. The very thing needed to rightly guide that
little life. In time, and as a result of your training, your baby will go down
for naps and nighttime sleep without crying. He will actually find sleep a
welcomed friend.
What Should I Do When My Baby Cries?
In relation to a baby’s cry, the distinction between feeding philosophies is
basic. Chelsea’s mom understands the wisdom of first assessing her
baby’s cry and then acting. She listens, she thinks, and then she acts on
her assessment.
Unfortunately, Marisa’s mom will not take time to assess. In fact, she
has been told it is best not to think. She simply reacts to her feelings
when she hears her baby cry. Yet feelings never were and never will be
the basis for any sound decision-making. Why would intuition suddenly
assume center stage in this, her most critical role? Crying is a mechanism
given by the Creator. For babies, it is one of the few ways they have to let
us know of a need. What crying does for the parent hearing it is to arouse
emotions that in turn stimulate the thought process leading to assessment.
Mother’s decisions without assessment can be dangerous. To deny the
importance of careful assessment is to deny parents their role as leaders.
Leaders must be clear-headed and ready to make decisions. They should
not be driven by their emotions.
In practice, emotional mothering can set the stage for child abuse.
How? It creates a vicious cycle. A common characteristic found among
abusive parents is a tendency to direct thoughtless, impassioned
responses toward their innocent children. Too often those responses are
fueled by sleepless nights and a child trained to be demanding.
How should you respond when your baby cries? Unless you sense
your baby is in danger, take a moment to listen and assess his or her
crying. After a brief assessment, take the appropriate action. Here are
some practical and somewhat more detailed steps to follow.
Listen for the Type of Cry. Even in the early days and weeks, you