Otis 1 Mishya Otis Dr. McEvoy DEP 2004 16 January 2014 Baby Wise Assignment 1.

According to Babywise, are human infants Good (equipped at birth with positive tendencies), Bad (have innately bad tendencies at birth, Blank Slate (have no skills, abilities, or tendencies at birth)? According to babywise, it appears that human infants are bad. Babywise co-author, Dr. Robert Buckham, states that the main purpose of parent-controlled feeding is to quickly instill a sense of order in the newborns mind. He further explains that babies who are fed on demand quickly grow used to immediate gratification and thus, become more demanding and brats. Buckhams statement falls in line with the views of Hobbes who portrayed children as selfish and bad urging that it is societys responsibility to teach children to behave in a civilized manner. Ultimately babywise is attempting to put newborns in their place and teach them that they are not in charge and that the world does not evolve around them. 2. According to Babywise, Should development of an infant be shaped by Nature or Nurture? What is the most important force? Babywise seems to place the most importance on Nurture since, after all, they teach child-rearing courses. Babywise believes that children are born bad and the social environment strongly influences the infant. They hold this idea that newborns must know that they are not the ones in control and cannot do as they please. Babywise courses have taught parents in the past to feed their infants every four hours, which contradicts most

Otis 2 doctors who suggest feeding infants every two to three hours and the American Academy of Pediatrics who recommend feeding on demand. 3. According to Babywise, Do babies develop the same? - Universal or differently Particularistic? Babywise seems to take the stand that newborns are universal. The Ezzos, founders of babywise, believe that feeding newborns every two and a half to three hours around the clock will suit all babies. They believe that if the newborn cries in between then he or she is not hungry but simply wants gratification. The Ezzos seem to think that all babies are the same and parents must not give in and satisfy their children rather teach them a lesson. 4. According to Babywise, Is Development Passive (infant plays no role) or Active (infant determines developmental outcomes)? Babywise instills this idea that development of an infant is passive. The infant plays no role and it is not up to the baby to decide when he or she wants to eat but up to the parent. The infant does not get to determine its developmental outcomes rather the parents do. The newborn doesnt get to decide whether he or she is ready to sleep through the night at eight weeks rather the parents do by feeding the baby strictly around the clock and cutting out night feedings. Babywise also seems to blame parents who feed their children on demand for creating brats. 5. According to Babywise, Is Development Continuous or Discontinuous? Babywise definitely has more of a discontinuous attitude towards development. One has to realize that newborns were in the womb for approximately the past nine months, lying comfortably as close to mom as physically possible. Now, all of a sudden they exit the womb and are not only never going to be this physically close to mom again but also they

Otis 3 are now not going to be fed automatically and when they want. Instead, they are going to experience the feeling of hunger and be forced to eat around the clock. This is not only a huge change but also an abrupt one. The transition from being inside the womb to entering the world and being taught that the world no longer revolves around you is a rapid transition.