Ponderings/Ramblings
I am frequently made aware of modern day studies about child rearing whether it be health, discipline, new trends, or what have you. I always cringe when I think about poor Sawyer's infant experience. I was a mom without a clue and too scared to trust my own intuition so I followed all of the modern day suggestions given to me. I forced a strict schedule, tried to make him sleep through the night at a young age, forced "tummy time", and worried and fretted about so many things. I wish I could go back in time and mother him like I do Evi.
Anyway, the latest study that I heard about said that infants are developing later (sitting up, crawling, and walking) due to the use of swings, bouncy seats, exercisaucers, etc. instead of being put down on the floor. Babies are not developing muscles like they should be when they are not on their tummies to play (according to this study). Here are my thoughts...
If I had to make a guess, I would say cultures all over the world and all throughout history, don't just put their babies down while they go about their busy lives, they SLING them. When I see National Geographic (or other) pictures of mothers, they often have a baby on their back, side, or front. I would say the real tragedy is that mothers and their babies lose this bonding time not a few months of development. I do have all of these modern "conveniences" and I use them probably more with Evi than with the other two (because she is so heavy and because of my slow back recovery). My third child is my most happy and content baby. She is cuddled, snuggled, and involved in every part of our lives. My point is what I have learned through trial and error and the experience of having 3 children is that what is truly important is that precious time that you have with your little ones not whether or not they have X amount of time to play on their tummy and start crawling by the time they are 9 months.
Second, why is it that our society puts so much stock in what is average and being better than average. I do admit that it bothers me when people point out the "delays" in my children. When I am told repeatedly by family members that my son is very delayed in his speech or when people point out that my daughters were/are late to sit up, crawl, walk. I don't regret at all that Jubilee lived in the ergo backpack and didn't walk until she was 16 months old. I see no damage from not giving her a lot of tummy time.
I find it very interesting that modern day psychologists and doctors think that they have enlightened us as a society with all their new found information on mothering (and childbirth). People have been doing this for thousands and thousands of years and yet we rely on experts (many of whom don't have children or are so involved in their careers that they don't really have a lot of parenting expertise) to tell us what to do.
My plan? What does the Bible say about raising children and mothering? I am doing a lot of study to find out - reading and rereading scripture, praying, discussing things with my husband, taking notes, reading books and articles by authors and sources. I am working on implementing what I learn and I plan to pass this information on to my children. I desire to be a Titus 2 mentor to my daughters and daughters (hopefully plural) in law.
Those are my ramblings for the day.
Anyway, the latest study that I heard about said that infants are developing later (sitting up, crawling, and walking) due to the use of swings, bouncy seats, exercisaucers, etc. instead of being put down on the floor. Babies are not developing muscles like they should be when they are not on their tummies to play (according to this study). Here are my thoughts...
If I had to make a guess, I would say cultures all over the world and all throughout history, don't just put their babies down while they go about their busy lives, they SLING them. When I see National Geographic (or other) pictures of mothers, they often have a baby on their back, side, or front. I would say the real tragedy is that mothers and their babies lose this bonding time not a few months of development. I do have all of these modern "conveniences" and I use them probably more with Evi than with the other two (because she is so heavy and because of my slow back recovery). My third child is my most happy and content baby. She is cuddled, snuggled, and involved in every part of our lives. My point is what I have learned through trial and error and the experience of having 3 children is that what is truly important is that precious time that you have with your little ones not whether or not they have X amount of time to play on their tummy and start crawling by the time they are 9 months.
Second, why is it that our society puts so much stock in what is average and being better than average. I do admit that it bothers me when people point out the "delays" in my children. When I am told repeatedly by family members that my son is very delayed in his speech or when people point out that my daughters were/are late to sit up, crawl, walk. I don't regret at all that Jubilee lived in the ergo backpack and didn't walk until she was 16 months old. I see no damage from not giving her a lot of tummy time.
I find it very interesting that modern day psychologists and doctors think that they have enlightened us as a society with all their new found information on mothering (and childbirth). People have been doing this for thousands and thousands of years and yet we rely on experts (many of whom don't have children or are so involved in their careers that they don't really have a lot of parenting expertise) to tell us what to do.
My plan? What does the Bible say about raising children and mothering? I am doing a lot of study to find out - reading and rereading scripture, praying, discussing things with my husband, taking notes, reading books and articles by authors and sources. I am working on implementing what I learn and I plan to pass this information on to my children. I desire to be a Titus 2 mentor to my daughters and daughters (hopefully plural) in law.
Those are my ramblings for the day.
Awesome ramblings! David walked at 18 months and he was FINE, he's a very normal strappin' big 11 1/2 yr old now. NO biggy that he walked in his own sweet time. Then I've got Jeremiah who walked at 10 months. He's normal too and unique just as they all are.
ReplyDeleteYou'll run into this more as they are school age. Whether they read at 4 or 9 doesn't really matter in the long run. I have a very close friend who's son didn't read until he was 11 , was reading at adult level at age 12, then at age 14 he scored a near 100% on his standardized testing. Point being, we are raising UNIQUE children, not cookie cutter children.
About baby wearing, gadgets, and development, I agree again. In fact, I've read multiple times that African babies do very little at a young age, they are simply strapped to their mother! I am certain they catch up though and aren't any worse for the wear.
Intuitive mothering is awesome! I learned the hard way too! It's fufilling for me and baby, I am productive, nuturing and I know I am meeting all the needs of my babies. They are secure in everything and are learning at a young age to put their 100% trust in Mother, which I pray at sometime down the road will transition in them putting their 100% trust in their Savior.
Terrifically wonderful ramblings, Emily! You are so very right, too. I, too, would love to go back and parent my first child like I have my most recent child. See, children really are God's greatest refiner's fire!!!!!!
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