'Why is hunger a more valid need than comfort?'

“Why is hunger a more valid need than comfort?” J.Milburn⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I hear this ALL THE TIME, “well, they aren’t hungry so there is no need to go to them.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Since when did it become ok to ignore all other needs at night? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I see companies guaranteeing that babies are going to sleep through the night at 3,4,5,6,7,8 months in 14 days and I am absolutely blown away by this claim. The expectation is that the baby will go from 6pm to 6 am without calling for the parent in as little as 14 days??!!! This is based on the crazy idea that if the baby does not need the calories (by the way, sleep consultants are NOT in any position to talk about cutting calories as this is OUTSIDE their scope of practice) that they need nothing else and should not be calling for you at all. Can you even imagine if this is how we treated our partner or our best friend or really any other human - only responding to them if they are hungry??!!!! This is just nonsense!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I say this all the time and I will say it again - the biggest predictor of how well your child turns out is that they have a secure attachment with their primary caregiver. This attachment happens when we meet all of their needs - ALL! This includes their need for contact and closeness and not just their need to eat! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Remember that in the first year your baby attaches through the senses, if they cannot see or hear or smell you, they will signal. This is NORMAL! VERY NORMAL! This is not less of a need than the need for food. Go to your baby! Treat your baby the same way you would treat any other human - their need for comfort is just as valid as their need for calories!

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