Why do babies need so much attention?

Your newborn baby seeks your attention for many truly important reasons. The first (and primary) is that it needs you for its physical development and to meet its vital needs. But you are also necessary for the psychological (and emotional) development of the little person. The baby is born with the need to be loved, to feel emotional security, and to be important and significant to someone. And for this, it will constantly seek you – the newborn feels that this is the only way to satisfy this natural human need.

Creating a bond

The emotional bond that the baby and parents create in the early years provides the foundation for your child's future relationships at every level. For a child who has a stable and strong emotional bond with at least one adult by the age of 3-4 years, it is much less likely to have communication problems in later life. And the only way to build such a bond is to dedicate all the attention that your child needs.

Positive attention…

Your baby will quickly understand that your approval for its good behavior makes it feel wonderful (the little one loves to see you smile lovingly, even though it may seem too early for it to understand). In response, the baby is often inclined to repeat the action that made both of you happy, and this, besides being pleasant, is also beneficial for its development.

… and negative!

However, for many babies, the principle applies: „Any kind of attention is better than none.” This explains why a 9-month-old baby is prone to cry inconsolably, regardless of your endless efforts to comfort it – it simply knows that this way you will be there for it. The fact that while you are there you may be tired, nervous, and stressed does not matter at all to the little one. Even when angry, your presence is preferable.

Try this: If your baby cries for no apparent reason (which often happens especially around the 6th month), try waiting a few seconds before reacting. It is very likely that during this pause, the child will learn to calm itself.

5 proven ways to provide the „right” attention

1. Appreciate success. Always remind yourself to take time to reward your baby's „cooperativeness” with special attention.
2. Share the „load.”. It is not necessary for you to always be the source of attention for the child – allow your spouse, relatives, and friends to enjoy the baby.
3. Be spontaneous. Enjoy your baby and play with it even when you don't have a specific reason – this way you will manage to establish some control over its good mood.
4. Enjoy your time with your baby. Caring for the baby is not all it needs – have fun together! Do not prioritize „mechanical” caregiving – a gentle hug is much more important than washing clothes.
5. Be calm. It is unnecessary to worry that your attention now will threaten your child's independence in the future – this „extremely needy” period will pass faster than you imagine.

Curious

Your baby may start to show preferences as early as the end of the first year – the signal for this is usually the more frequent reaching with one hand instead of the other. However, if they choose the left one, it is not advisable to try to discourage them from now – wait at least a few months to be sure that this is the final choice.

And when you have the opportunity to leave the baby for a while in the care of a close person, use that time for yourself – a peaceful day or a visit to a SPA center can help you relax and return more calm and recharged to your daily responsibilities.