Over time your high-need baby (HNB) will, most probably, turn into a high-need toddler and then a high-need teen. This is not something that kids grow out of, although things do tend to get easier with time…
But don’t stress!! What might seem like an insufferable part of their personality at the beginning can actually work in their favour later on (just hang on, it will get better) and help them turn into caring, curious, and compassionate adults.
Have a look at the chart. It shows how some of the characteristics change over time, provided they get lots of love, support, and flexibility from parents. Look ahead but take in from present as much as possible; childhood does go by too fast (even if you are parenting one of the spirited babies – I know it doesn’t always feel this way but trust me).
*extracted from Sears & Sears (1996) “The fussy baby book” (Little, Brown and Company).
Doesn’t look as bad, right? Now, all you have to do is survive the worst (easy said, eh?!) and I will be here to provide some irony and sarcasm… I meant support.
3+
