In a message dated 98-02-25 16:47:18 EST, you write:

<< I may be way out of bounds, but it seems to me, that if a baby isn't
 progressing with developmental stages of social development (like learning to
 sleep longer at night), and physical causes are ruled out, it suggests to me
 that there may be something askew in the mother-baby relationship/attachment.
>>
Ann,
   Ouch , that hurt. I think you make a good point but it seems as if we are
calling failure to sleep longer at night "developmental delay" in a baby not
even 18 months old. ( unless my memory is off again, I thought the age 15
months was mentioned) It is hard for me to hear the generalization that a baby
that young who doesn't sleep long at night, is developmentally inappropriate.
If nothing else it puts a new spin on my firstborn, who woke up EVERY two
hours until he was 3  3/4 years old. I would have been shocked if someone said
there was something "askew in the mother/baby relationship" with my son at
that time. He was loving and happy and talking a blue streak and eating food
AND waking me up every two hours. Perhaps I could have done something to
change this, but he was not ready for the distractions or water drinks to
replace nursing til he was way past three. The only differences between these
babies and mine were 1. my attitude that this was a normal need that would
pass when he hit a certain stage of sleep maturity and 2. my ability to cope
with it because I was at working at home with him and was able to take a nap
midday when he did. I think you are right that this is a need , but I'm not
sure it's a given that it indicates something "askew", although it is good to
look at everything if only to rule it out. Judy LeVan Fram, Brooklyn., NY