Impact vs. Intent in Parenting
When we accidentally harm our children, we often invoke the, "I didn't mean to!" in our defence instead of providing them with the acknowledgement of hurt and support they need.
When we accidentally harm our children, we often invoke the, "I didn't mean to!" in our defence instead of providing them with the acknowledgement of hurt and support they need.
The question of whether and how nighttime parenting affects attachment is still unclear. I review a study that helps elucidate at least part of this issue.
We have all been told that we have to be consistent and firm with our kids. Yet we don't have to and sometimes that's not even the right thing to do.
A new "gentle" approach to sleep suggests that if parents meet all their child's needs, sleep will follow. However, I disagree and believe this type of approach can actually harm families. Here's why.
"What is most important for your child's development?" If you answered sleep, I think we need to talk.
New research suggests a method of "responsive settling" actually can improve infant sleep as well as extinction methods. Is this wholly accurate?
Elizabeth Pantley has created perhaps her best book yet in the popular and much-needed No-Cry series. A book that helps families gently navigate sleep from the start, it's an excellent (and easy) read for all parents.
When you talk about stress and sleep training, you often get two polarized views: Either the stress is so great it has to cause irreparable harm or it's fine or even beneficial. Yet neither really captures the whole story.
For the majority of human history, we have shared sleep with our infants which has led some researchers to speculate that this is related to the development of secure attachment, but this has yet to be studied... until now. The results may surprise some people.
Something happens. Your child starts to cry. You expect them to run to your arms as they have all along, but this time something is different. This time they run away from you.