It’s important for a child to obey her parents, but an infant does not understand what you say to her. She hears your tone of voice and may sense that you are angry. Research shows that a baby is not able to control her actions long enough to do what you tell her. And your baby won’t be able to obey for some time. Spanking or slapping her hand will only confuse her and won’t help at all. Being kind and gentle with your baby will help more than anything else. Your baby doesn’t do things on purpose yet, and she surely doesn’t do things to bother you.

This newsletter gives equal space and time to both sexes. If we write him or her, we are talking about all babies. Every baby is different. Normal children may do things earlier or later than described in this FAQ. This FAQ describes typical children at each age. Each child is special and develops at his or her own pace.