Parenting has many different approaches for various tasks. One of the most difficult tasks for most parents is bed time. What do you do when it is far past bedtime and your little one is reluctant to go to sleep? Do you put them in their room, walk away and check on them periodically? Do you snuggle them to dream land? Both techniques have their pros and cons. The checking on them periodically, otherwise know as the cry it out method, coined by Dr. Richard Ferber is the first major method. The second method, the cuddling is known as attachment parenting, developed by Dr. William Sears. Weighing out the pros and cons of both sleep solutions will help you choose which method is best for you and your family.
Both Dr. Richard Ferber and Dr. William Sears have impressive credentials. Richard Ferber, M.D is an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. His other credentials include board certification in pediatrics and sleep disorders medicine and being the director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children’s Hospital in Boston. Beginning in 1978, he has been doctoring children with sleep problems. Dr. William Sears is an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Dr. Sears received his pediatric training at Harvard Medical School’s Children’s Hospital in Boston and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, where he served as associate ward chief of the newborn nursery and associate professor of pediatrics. Dr. Sears is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a fellow of the Royal College of Pediatricians. In addition to all his professional credentials he is a father of eight children and has written over 30 books associated with ...
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The concept of infant-mother attachment is as important to the child as the birth itself. The effect this relationship has on a child shall affect that child for its entire life. A secure attachment to the mother or a primary caregiver is imperative for a child’s development. Ainsworth’s study shows that a mother is responsive to her infant’s behavioral cues which will develop into a strong infant-mother attachment. This will result in a child who can easily, without stress, be separated from his mother and without any anxiety. Of course the study shows a child with a weak infant-mother relationship will lead to mistrust, anxiety, and will never really be that close with the mother. Without the right help, this child may harbor these ill feelings for life.
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Throughout the world, for centuries, parents and infants have engage in many different sleeping arrangements. In the Western World solitary sleeping is strongly encouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Solitary sleeping, or sleeping in separate rooms and separate beds, is said to promote the infants independence and reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The AAP has even issued multiple warnings on the dangers of shared sleeping arrangements, citing concerns regarding the safety, wellbeing, and the independence of the child. While the health and safety of an infant is the top priority for all the Western idea of solitary sleeping does not consider the different cultural beliefs of others. Therefore, despite
For the first three years of my son’s life, I rarely slept through the night because he almost never did. Not only was this a very tiring time of my life, it was very confusing. I was reading a lot of different books about how to get him to sleep and they all seemed to suggest different ways to accomplish this goal. There were so many different options out there, but how would I know what would actually work? Confusion about what sleep training method to use is something I often hear from parents, who may have also received advice and information from many different sources.
If your child continues to have difficulties settling and sleeping, consult a pediatrician. When overactive children become overtired, impulse control becomes more difficult and acting out is likely to become a problem. His pediatrician can help narrow down other sources for trouble as well as offer alternative approaches or other treatments if necessary.
There has been a constant debate of whether co-sleeping is beneficial or detrimental to infants development. But studies have shown that co-sleeping with the parent influences emotional development between the parent and the infant. By co-sleeping with the parent the warmth from their body in addition, to the sense of protection allows for attachment between the two. The infant is able to follow the breathing rhythm of their parent while co-sleeping as well. Exposing infants to toxins in parents’ breath also assist in development. Furthermore, co-sleeping has been seen to have prolonged effects on social interactions between the parent and child. The purpose of this paper is to review how co-sleeping is beneficial to infants development.
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