Rocking at Bedtime

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jan 6, 1916

Rocking at Bedtime

THE only excuse that has ever existed for rocking, is that the mother liked to do it, or thought she must follow the precedent of other rocking mothers, although the time nearly always comes, sooner or later, when what was a joy becomes an irksome task. The inconvenience of rocking becomes manifest some day, especially after the child grows older and falls asleep more slowly. It is then that the mother begins to realize that in giving way to her inclination to rock the baby, she has trained him along lines which are not well for him and are decidedly hard for herself.

Good habits are quite as easy to establish as bad ones: and the mother who begins right in the training of her child will have more energy with which to care for him, and more opportunity to enjoy this fleeting time of his babyhood.

When the little one cries or is fretful during the first days of his life, she should not allow any one to quiet him by walking about or rocking him. Holding him upright against the shoulder or gently patting the little back may be sufficient to soothe, if colic is the disturbing ailment. In fact, a certain amount of lusty crying is good for the child. This cry can readily be distinguished from the whimpering cry of discomfort or the sharp cry of pain. In any event rocking cannot benefit him in the least.

There is absolutely no reason for rocking, and there are some very good ones against it. The body of the young infant is exceedingly tender and soft, because as yet there is present in the body cells a great deal of fluid. This continual change of position as afforded in rocking, tends continually to disturb the body equilibrium, thus calling for a large amount of nervous expenditure to restore a normal and stable condition of quiet. Brain and body rest much better if, when it comes time to sleep, the child is laid down quietly.

In the very first month of a baby's life he begins to adapt himself to the suggestions of his daily life and care. Perhaps one of the first impressions he receives is hunger. He is uncomfortable, and he cries. The cry brings food. The second impression is comfort and pleasure. After this experience has been repeated a number of times, little brain grooves begin to form, connecting the ideas of hunger, crying, and food. These brain grooves are the beginning of memory. He soon learns to expect that which is given regularly, because of the repeated impressions made.

During the first month he begins to adapt himself to these repeated impressions of his daily life. This adaptation is called habit. He learns when to expect food, and how he is expected to go to sleep.

Baldwin, whose psychological researches are highly valued, assures us that there is no element of will as yet, “for the fibers of the brain necessary to voluntary action, in the cortex of the hemisphere, are not yet formed.” This learned man says, further:—

“The realization of the extraordinary adaptiveness of the very young child should save parents many an anxious day and sleepless night. There is practically nothing easier than to impress upon the child whatever habits of daily and nightly routine one wishes him to acquire, if he be taken in hand early enough. The only requirements are knowledge of what is good for him, and then inviolable regularity in everything that concerns him. Under this training he will become as ‘obstinate’ in being ‘good’ as the opposite so-called ‘indulgent’ or ‘capricious’ treatment always makes him in being ‘bad.’ There is no reason whatever why he should be walked with or held, why he should be taken up when he cries, why he should be trotted when he awakes, or why he should have a light by night. Things like this are simply bad habits, for which the parents have themselves to thank. The child adapts himself to his training, and it is his treatment that his habits reflect.”

When the child is wide-awake, and especially as he grows older, every normal mother will desire to express her affection by a certain amount of mothering and loving; but when it comes time to put baby to bed,—and there must be regular times with which nothing is allowed to interfere,—he should be trained to be put quietly into a well-ventilated room in a comfortable crib or bed.

From the beginning the regular noises of the household should continue without reference to the child. He will readily become accustomed to these and can adapt himself to them. It is not fair nor yet necessary that the household should go about on tiptoes and with bated breath because the baby is asleep. Unusual and sharp noises will disturb, however, because they are something which startle, and to which adaptation has not been made.

Do not rock the baby to sleep, it cannot do any good and is very likely to make a nervous, excitable, exacting child, not properly established in the early and important habits of healthful regularity and unselfish obedience.—The Mother's Magazine.