Can you spoil your newborn

Your baby needs all the care and attention you can give. Ignore the advice of well-meaning relatives who think babies need to learn independence.

Instead, listen to your parental instinct — that inner voice that tells you to comfort your baby when he cries. But your baby is too young to purposefully manipulate or annoy you. He cries to communicate his needs, whether they're for a snack, a dry diaper, or a little cuddling with Mom or Dad.

When you respond quickly to your baby, you're building his sense of self-worth. You're also establishing a foundation of trust that can last for years to come. If you give your baby prompt attention, he'll feel more secure and less anxious, giving him the courage to explore the world on his own. And once he understands that you take his cries seriously, he'll be less likely to cry for no reason. In the long run, responding quickly to your baby's needs will make him less clingy and demanding, not more.

By the time your baby is 6 to 8 months old, he'll be paying close attention to cause and effect — noticing, for instance, that his bowl falls when he drops it from the highchair.

He'll also start to see a direct link between his actions and your responses. At this point it's okay to set some limits. If your baby starts crying to get something he doesn't need, hold your ground and give him a hug when he calms down. Similarly, give hugs and praise for good behavior and gently redirect him when he's doing something hazardous.

Posted In Children's , Parenting. Written by Parenting Services. March 13, Comments Join the Conversation. Parenting Services Sanford Health Parenting Services is made up of pediatricians, registered nurses, certified lactation consultants, early childhood enrichment specialists, child care specialists and safe home experts.

Many of them are also parents. You can reach them at or parenting sanfordhealth. Stay up to date with news from Sanford Health. Sign Up. Added charges will apply for shipping to and from Alaska and Hawaii. Can You Spoil a Baby? By Happiest Baby Staff. When should you start worrying about spoiling your baby? Final Thoughts: Can you Spoil a Baby? Your Cart is Empty.

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