, when I'm told 'You're making a rod for your own back".....

[Juwesm]

...to take said rod and beat the person in question to a pulp with it?

Co-sleeping with my 9-week old - 'You're making a rod for your own back, he'll be sleeping with you until he's 23'
Carrying Velcro baby around with me all the time - ' You're making a rod for your own back, you'll never be able to put him down'
Picking up my baby when he cries - 'You're making a rod for your own back, he'll learn that he can get attention just by crying'
Feeding him on demand - 'You're making a rod for your own back, he'll never want to eat at normal times'

And so on, and so forth.
AIBU, AIBPFB?

And what is 'a rod for one's own back'? Where is that from? Who has a rod up their back?

[HoneyDue]

There are some cultures wherein babies are never put down and it's the men who carry them about!

Sorry, I'm an anthropologist but you don't need an anthropologist to say it makes perfect sense that babies cannot be loved/looked after too much. Those are less likely to be taken off by predators and babies are designed to be snuggled up to! Then mum/dad/baby are more content and less anxious, overall win win situation!

[neenztwinz]

You can't spoil a 9 week old.

Co-sleeping was the only way I got any sleep when my DTs were newborns [shudder at memory]

I fed on demand - whenever they cried, I fed them. They loved it, I loved it.

OK, the next bit won't go down too well here but it's the truth... at 6mo I used CC to them into a bedtime routine and then used it again at 8mo to end night feeding.

What I am trying to say is even if your baby gets into 'bad' habits you can fix them very easily at a later date. Just tell the rod for your own back brigade 'well it's working for us!'

Enjoy your time with your Velcro Baby

[HoneyDue]

Ah yes, there are cultures whereby babies never cry as always plenty of willing hands in the tribe/extended family network so babies feel safe, secure and content at all times.

Which makes it even sadder when you have the situation in a rich country where an isolated, lonely mum is depressed or unable to cope very well with dc having little or no support and only offered criticism! It is unheard of even in the poorest of countries.

[Juwesm]

HoneyDue - now I will be able to respond with "Well, actually, an anthropologist I know says....."

(Interesting that it's Friday, and this thread has started to take a gentle turn towards 'loving your rod' . Should be able to get it round to bumsex by this evening!)

[cyteen]

Arf I'm impressed at your dedication Juwesm, aren't you one of the April mums? (Not a stalker - I know minush in RL)

[Juwesm]

Aye, that's me! April Mum and Fanjo Warrior .

Hope Minush is getting on okay