Many parents mistakenly think “the more the better” when it comes to exposing their little ones to stimulation. Babies certainly needs stimulation to develop senses, emotions and cognitive abilities, but the fact is that they do not need ongoing, intense stimulation. Instead, your baby needs moderate stimulation that is especially tailored to suit his or her specific needs. In this article, we explain all about overstimulation and what you can do to recognize it and how to create the right balance for your baby with the products from the Boho Chic Collection.
What is overstimulation?
Overstimulation is a situation in which a child is experiencing more sensations, noises and input than he is able to handle. When a baby is experiencing this sort of “overload”, negative emotions arise, such as anxiety, fear, anger, etc. This can lead to excessive crying and rejecting forms of stimulation that are usually welcome, like hugging. Remember, babies and young children’s ability to regulate sensory input is immature. As a result, stimulation that might seem totally reasonable to you could be pretty overwhelming to them. Observe your child – when she is overstimulated she will let you know.
How can I adjust the level of stimulation to suit my child’s specific needs?
Each child is different, so there is no one answer to the question: “How much stimulation is the right amount of stimulation?”. To make things even more challenging, each baby’s ideal levels of stimulation can vary during the day, depending on hunger, tiredness, etc. Let your child lead the way, learn to read her cues and try different options to see what’s right for her.