Patient's question:
My baby is only two months old. When she was born, she might have gotten used to being held, so she sleeps while being carried during the day. Now, at night, she also needs to be held close and sleep with her head resting on an adult's arm. Whether it's day or night, even if she sleeps soundly when being held, as soon as she is put down in a crib or a car seat, she wakes up and starts fussing and refuses to sleep. But I'm wondering if holding or cuddling her like this for a long time could have any impact on her development. Is it good for a baby to sleep while being held?Doctor's answer:
Many mothers are accustomed to holding and patting their babies to sleep, only to place them in the crib once they fall asleep. This is actually an unscientific practice, especially when the baby is between 4-6 months old and beginning to develop a habit of deep sleep. If the baby is always put to sleep by being held and patted every night, they will become accustomed to needing the same method to fall asleep in the future.Mothers can try encouraging their babies to fall asleep on their own. When they notice signs of drowsiness, place the baby in the crib and let them fall asleep independently. If the baby starts crying, it may be necessary to be firm and let them cry for a while. By doing this for several consecutive days, the baby will gradually develop the habit of falling asleep on their own.