Babies lying (i.e. not telling the truth)

As parents, we often discuss the philosophical issues surrounding this behaviour in our children.

But babies...

an article in the Globe & Mail Sneaky babies learn to lie before they talk caught my eye. Upon reading the article that cited a study from the University of Portsmouth, I realized, from some of their examples, that babies can or do indeed lie.

I have witnessed babies who have cried to get the attention of the parent but are not really distressed. One mother noted that she watched her baby cry then stop and wait for a response, then cry again.

Babies are really looking for the social interaction. The cause and effect of learning is very much a part of their learning curve. The article and the study both contend that they are being manipulative but not necessarily being deceitful as they have not really wrestled with the rights and wrongs of lying.

This is where parents need to really look at the behaviours of their child(ren) and realise that we don't always have to respond to their every cry. One parent of 6 that I know had triplets and she just couldn't be there every time they cried. She learned very quickly—to save her sanity and give her time to rest—when the cry is one of distress and need.

Parents of only children sometimes need to put things in perspective and not be available at every whim or cry of the child. They will survive.

That's what I believe anyway.