Hello to all!I'm a LLL Leader in Rochester, New York and an IBCLC
hopeful!(I'm taking the exam this year!!) I've mostly been a lurker on the
list and I've learned so much from so many of you! I wanted to share a few
thoughts on the sleeping through the night issue, as this topic comes up
frequently at LLL meetings. I really thought that Kathy Dettwyler's post on
this issue was right on target. I often tell Moms that times may have
changed for us over the centuries, but babies have had the same needs since
the Stone age!!The need to be held, cuddled and be close to Mom is a basic
human need! As LLL Leaders one of the ten points of our LLL Philosophy is
"In the early years, the baby has an intense need to be with his mother
which is as basic as his need for food." The other point that I stress in
meetings when this issue comes up is what you are doing for your baby in a
positive way by meeting his needs at night. When you respond to your baby's
needs at night as well as during the day you are teaching him his first
lessons about love and trust. You are teaching him that when it is dark and
he is hungry, cold, afraid, etc. someone who loves him will be there to care
for him. I feel that you're really setting a basis for pyschological
well-being. When you look at the epidemic we have in the USA today of teen
pregnancy, drug abuse and violence, you have to stop and wonder how much of
this acting out by teens might have been prevented if these children had had
their needs met when they were younger. I know that this doesn't apply to
all situations, but I think that it's much easier, and far more pleasant, to
get up during the night with a baby then it is to deal with the problems
that can happen in the teenage years. Also, as Kathy D. mentioned, this time
goes by so quickly, even though it feels long when you are in the middle of
it!My husband and I have 3 children, ages 9,7 and 3 who all sleep
beautifully on their own now, but I had many long nights with them on the
way to it!!Now, when one of them comes in to our bed during the night to
snuggle and hug I love it! None of my kids are afraid of sleep or the night
and I really believe it is because we met their needs until they were ready
to sleep on their own. Sorry that this is long, but I feel strongly about
this issue!!Thanks for listening!
WarmLLLy,
Clara R. Marchese, LLL Leader, IBCLC hopeful
Rochester, New York
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