to think you cant cuddle a baby too much

[whoneedssleepanyway]

In conversation with a colleague today it came up that if his 7 month old DS takes a little knock or something his wife is very conscious that they give him a quick cuddle but put him down very quickly as she doesn't want him to be Molly coddled and be clingy.

AIBU to think they are way over analysing this, each to their own and all that but really cuddling a 7 month old too much...

[NieuweBuurvrouw]

YANBU

How sad for the wee lad

[Scholes34]

When I visited the Baby Clinic with DS1 I moaned to the GP that he just wanted to be picked up and held all the time, so the GP said, "well, pick him up and hold him if that's what he wants". Bless him. Best advice I was ever given.

[Katy1368]

YANBU - I give my girl massive cuddles all the time particularly when upset, I don't think you can "spoil" them with cuddles in all honesty.

[LostMyIdentityAlongTheWay]

I can see the point of over-cuddling a kid who is a LOT older if they have a SMALL and NOT DANGEROUS accident that might make them more upset than hurt... iyswim?

But 7 months??? It's all about the cuddles at that age, surely? I think you are totally NBU. Heavens. That's bonkers.

[SnuffleTurtle153]

YABU. Different parents do things in different ways. It's none of your business.

[TheSnickeringFox]

YANBU, cuddle, cuddle, cuddle I say!

My 7mo totally agrees.

[yukoncher]

Completely agree with MyIdentityAlongTheWay

[saffy85]

Nothing wrong with a lovely long cuddle when they're upset for whatever reason. I don't see how you can mollycoddle a baby tbh. Anyway one day they may tell you to do one and not want cuddles at all so make the most of it now while they have no means to escape

[choccyp1g]

My health visitor said,
"some people say don't pick them up every time they cry, but that defeats the purpose; the whole point of babies is for cuddling"

[NieuweBuurvrouw]

LostMyIdentityAlongTheWay I do agree, sort of.

I tend to respond to the shocked stare of a just-fallen-over-but-not-yet-crying toddler by saying something like 'great trick DC' and even applause where needed. As a general rule that prevents tears where there's no real hurt. In the same situation MIL responds with a look of horror and rushes to them which usually results in full on crying / total upset.

But, in the case of actual hurt / upset with such a small baby surely plenty of cuddles (while not overplaying the seriousness of the incident) and swift distraction is the only way?

[MissBetsyTrotwood]

Cuddle as much as possible, whenever possible, I say. And in the case of a wiped-out child, I find a big squeeze, a big 'magic kiss' and a big 'you're alright' generally do the trick for most minor injuries.

A 7mo old though... CUDDLE!

[lazarusb]

I always picked up my babies as soon as they cried. I had/have friends who'd say 'You're making a rod for your own back', 'You'll regret it in the end' etc.
But I haven't. All 3 of mine (aged 8, 11 today and 21) still like a cuddle with their mum They certainly haven't grown up unable to cope with the world. Cuddle them as much as you can!

[happy2bhomely]

My youngest is 15 months. For the first 4 months of his life the only time he was put down was to have a nappy change. He was either in our arms, breastfeeding, in the sling or asleep on my chest. It does not make them clingy! It's the most natural thing in the world to hug and stroke and kiss and squeeze them. I couldn't get enough! I heard him cry twice in that time-when he was first born and when he had his second injections. As long as the baby/child enjoys it, it's impossible to cuddle them too much!

[livinginazoo]

You can't spoil a baby!!