In a nutshell, no. Researchers have found that when a parent responds to a baby’s cries more quickly at age 4 months, the baby cries less and calms easier by 8 months. This surprises many people. They think responding quickly to a cry will spoil the baby. But babies aren’t like that. You cannot spoil a baby because your baby needs you to meet her needs. A quick response teaches your baby to trust you. Your baby learns to give a small cry instead of a big one, because she knows you will come to help. When your baby is getting the help she needs, she needs to cry less. Ignoring your baby’s needs may teach her that the world is not to be trusted. Trust is the foundation for relating positively to the world around us. Trust is necessary for her to grow into a well-adjusted, caring and responsible person.
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Will I spoil my baby by going to him quickly when he cries?
Last Updated: April 07, 2007
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