The Traumatic Past

"By the 1930s, mothers were sternly warned not to pick up their babies except at very specific times. When babies cried, the mothers cried too, but the word from the experts was that it was forbidden to pick up or even touch their babies. This would spoil them. One Canadian paediatrician even wrote that picking up a 2 week old who was crying was the first step to juvenile court." #drjacknewman

The pressure put upon mothers in the past to ignore their babies crying, to resist the temptation to pick them up, to refrain from cuddling and holding them was huge. Decades later, tears still form as they describe standing outside the closed bedroom door while their child cried.

Many grandmothers claim their babies slept through the night, never cried and happily lay in a cot all day while they went about domestic work. Some of these women are bending the truth because they still fear judgement for "giving in" to their babies. Others have truly come to believe this version of the truth, having blocked out the reality of screaming babies and tremendous guilt.

Babies have always - and will always - need physical contact for the majority of the early months. As mobility skills begin to develop around 3-6 months, they start to explore the ground but still need their caregiver in close proximity. In the second half-year, as they progress from crawling to walking, babies will follow their parents when they move about. As separation anxiety develops, they will cry when they see their parent go out of sight and smile when they return. The close connection between mother and child is biologically important.

#babywearing