As I said last week, I'm starting a series on high needs babies. But, what exactly is a high needs baby?
Doing research for this post, one thing is clear -- there is no single definition of a high needs baby or toddler. No one defining quality or checklist. But there certainly are similarities between high needs babies. Parenting expert Dr. Sears lists 12 qualities that are seen in high needs babies. You can read the full descriptions here. In summary a high needs baby or toddler is:
Intense* -- in your face about their every need, driven, loud
Hyperactive* -- constantly in motion, hate containment, fight swaddles
Draining* -- continuous need for attention
Feeds Frequently -- fights schedules and demands feeding
Demanding* -- strong willed, strong sense of urgency in everything they need
Awakens Frequently* -- poor sleepers, low sleep needs
Unsatisfied* -- hard to make content
Unpredictable* -- the same techniques for sleeping, soothing hardly work twice
Super Sensitive -- very aw…
Doing research for this post, one thing is clear -- there is no single definition of a high needs baby or toddler. No one defining quality or checklist. But there certainly are similarities between high needs babies. Parenting expert Dr. Sears lists 12 qualities that are seen in high needs babies. You can read the full descriptions here. In summary a high needs baby or toddler is:
Intense* -- in your face about their every need, driven, loud
Hyperactive* -- constantly in motion, hate containment, fight swaddles
Draining* -- continuous need for attention
Feeds Frequently -- fights schedules and demands feeding
Demanding* -- strong willed, strong sense of urgency in everything they need
Awakens Frequently* -- poor sleepers, low sleep needs
Unsatisfied* -- hard to make content
Unpredictable* -- the same techniques for sleeping, soothing hardly work twice
Super Sensitive -- very aw…