There is so much pressure and emphasis on babies being able to learn to do things on their own, especially self settling to sleep on their own. Yes baby's need to learn but they also need to develop attachment and trust, especially that the key people in their life (normally mum and dad) will respond to their needs. Babies need to feel secure before they can take onboard new learnings.
Sleep has always been a challenge to navigate for my daughter (now 13mths). This hasn't been helped by reflux or food challenges or being a light sleeper (like me). Generally she goes to sleep on her own during the daytime after a big wind down that signals to her it's time for a sleep. But come the evening she just has a meltdown if we try leave her to sleep on her own. My husband is normally on the final feed and settling off to sleep for the night duty. Last night I did it instead. And how beautiful it was, holding her in my arms especially when she started up at me with her big brown eyes them smiled widely. Those moments are gold.
We can be in such a rush to get through our to do list or watch something on TV or have some me time (don't get me wrong me time as a mum is super important), but it is easy to miss the moments or push aside the moments that can bring such enrichment to our lives. Yes we want our babies to grow into toddlers who grow into children who are more and more independent and need us less. But on that journey we don't want to be absent in the moments when they need us because we want them to not need us or we are busy. This is really important around attachment and trust.
This is relevant to areas other than children and if you're not a parent. We can get so caught up rushing around that we don't stop to smell the roses, to gaze at the blanket of stars around us or listen to the way the water dances over the rocks. The other evening I was in the kitchen and found myself in awe of the stars that were visible from the window. I could have easily rushed to finish what I was there doing but instead I stopped and took a deep breath and just looked at the beauty of the stars. When we stop and soak in the moments we're allowing ourselves to be present. There is riches in that.
So next time your baby or toddler needs support after a fall or because they're tired or need you to help them to get to sleep, treasure the cuddles and the moments when you lock eyes together and the world seems to disappear around you. One day it will be the last time they need that and you don't want to look back and realise you've missed so many moments along the way.
Sleep has always been a challenge to navigate for my daughter (now 13mths). This hasn't been helped by reflux or food challenges or being a light sleeper (like me). Generally she goes to sleep on her own during the daytime after a big wind down that signals to her it's time for a sleep. But come the evening she just has a meltdown if we try leave her to sleep on her own. My husband is normally on the final feed and settling off to sleep for the night duty. Last night I did it instead. And how beautiful it was, holding her in my arms especially when she started up at me with her big brown eyes them smiled widely. Those moments are gold.
We can be in such a rush to get through our to do list or watch something on TV or have some me time (don't get me wrong me time as a mum is super important), but it is easy to miss the moments or push aside the moments that can bring such enrichment to our lives. Yes we want our babies to grow into toddlers who grow into children who are more and more independent and need us less. But on that journey we don't want to be absent in the moments when they need us because we want them to not need us or we are busy. This is really important around attachment and trust.
This is relevant to areas other than children and if you're not a parent. We can get so caught up rushing around that we don't stop to smell the roses, to gaze at the blanket of stars around us or listen to the way the water dances over the rocks. The other evening I was in the kitchen and found myself in awe of the stars that were visible from the window. I could have easily rushed to finish what I was there doing but instead I stopped and took a deep breath and just looked at the beauty of the stars. When we stop and soak in the moments we're allowing ourselves to be present. There is riches in that.
So next time your baby or toddler needs support after a fall or because they're tired or need you to help them to get to sleep, treasure the cuddles and the moments when you lock eyes together and the world seems to disappear around you. One day it will be the last time they need that and you don't want to look back and realise you've missed so many moments along the way.