Excerpt from an Article by
Prof. Dr. Berhanrd Hassenstein
Institute of Biology, University of Freiburg, Germany
Some caregivers do not give crying infants a signal of their presence as they are afraid of spoiling them and, as a consequence, being controlled by them. Yet, this idea would be founded and correct only if infants already possessed the concept of space (*mother is next door*), which, as shown before, is not the case. Crying is a call for help to the mother when the baby feels distress.
The experience of being intensely cared for at the beginning of their life helps children to become self-confident and independent of parental care earlier in life, and there is less risk that they will become problem children who cling to their caregiver. Children suffering from a lack of care during their first year (but also in the following years) which is not compensated for soon after will need increased parental attention during toddlerhood and beyond.
Spoiling older children is an educational mistake and is to be absolutely avoided. In contrast, when caregivers satisfy the young infant's needs for nurturing and loving attention, they do not spoil them.
The ability to postpone the satisfaction of wishes and requests is acquired during the next developmental phase,when the child understands what his or her mother is saying and explaining.
The experience of being intensely cared for at the beginning of their life helps children to become self-confident and independent of parental care earlier in life, and there is less risk that they will become problem children who cling to their caregiver. Children suffering from a lack of care during their first year (but also in the following years) which is not compensated for soon after will need increased parental attention during toddlerhood and beyond.
Spoiling older children is an educational mistake and is to be absolutely avoided. In contrast, when caregivers satisfy the young infant's needs for nurturing and loving attention, they do not spoil them.
The ability to postpone the satisfaction of wishes and requests is acquired during the next developmental phase,when the child understands what his or her mother is saying and explaining.