I have found that referring parents to Erikson's stages of psychosocial development gives so evidenced based discredit to the whole "Sleep Training & Scheduled Feedings" mentality - the following is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erikson's_stages_of_psychosocial_development

"Trust vs. Mistrust (Infants, 0 to 1 year)
Psychosocial Crisis: Trust vs. Mistrust 
Virtue: Hope 
The first stage, which corresponds to Freud's oral stage, centers around the infant's basic needs being met by the parents. The infant depends on the parents, especially the mother, for food, sustenance, and comfort. The child's relative understanding of world and society come from the parents and their interaction with the child. If the parents expose the child to warmth, regularity, and dependable affection, the infant's view of the world will be one of trust. Should the parents fail to provide a secure environment and to meet the child's basic need a sense of mistrust will result.

According to Erikson, the major developmental task in infancy is to learn whether or not other people, especially primary caregivers, regularly satisfy basic needs. If caregivers are consistent sources of food, comfort, and affection, an infant learns trust- that others are dependable and reliable. If they are neglectful, or perhaps even abusive, the infant instead learns mistrust- that the world is in an undependable, unpredictable, and possibly dangerous place."

Lisa Hughes RN, IBCLC/RLC
Baptist Hospital East
Louisville KY

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