Sub-navigation

• « Previous
• Back to features list »

Love and discipline

All parents want to find a balance between giving their child plenty of love and attention, and at the same time ensuring that a sense of discipline and an understanding of “right and wrong” is introduced.

Should I discipline my baby?

Babies don’t understand or need discipline before the age of around seven to nine months. They’re not capable at this age of attempting to manipulate you with their behaviour, or of knowing that they’re behaving in an ‘unacceptable’ way.

Before seven months, you can discourage unwanted behaviour by distracting your baby with new activities or toys. After this age, reward good behaviour with kind words and praise, and simply withhold these words if there’s any bad behaviour.

Can I give my baby too much love and attention?

In the first few months of life you should respond to all your baby’s cries; it will soothe her and should eventually result in less crying. As your baby grows you’ll be able to distinguish between the meaning of different cries such as hunger, pain or even a ‘leave me alone’ cry.

Babies sometimes have periods when they simply cry and fuss for no apparent reason, refusing food, sleep or cuddles. This may just be a way for a small baby to relieve tension and when it passes it will leave your baby more alert and happy.