Therapy for Infants

Trish, I agree to a certain extent. Even babies can be subjected to a lot of trauma...abuse, neglect, etc. They can be depressed, also, as that is often a chemical response of the body, not something that can be controlled. But therapy? I'm sure there are some ways of helping abused and neglected infants deal with their pain and I'm sure it would be classified as a kind of therapy. I can't see anorexia, though. Maybe loss of appetite due to depression, but not anorexia.

I'm not sure about baby therapy unless there is a cut and dried reason for it like Ina said....abuse, neglect etc...I think as a society we are far too concerned with creating "cookie cutter" kids and not letting them be individuals...but then that's just My opinion! :-)

I can undrestand an infant being withdrawn and depressed due to neglect and abuse, and not thriving physically as well. Anorexia sounds a bit far fetched though.

And therapy for a child that age would essentially be giving them the love they need to thrive emotionally and physically and providing a person whom they can trust.

Interesting topic. I think I agree with Ina and Susan. While infants are primarily "physical" in nature; they cry because they are hungry and in pain or uncomfortable; there is definitely an emotional side. Babies need love, cuddling, eye contact. Without these things they can fail to thrive. So, since they have emotional needs, a response like depression, to those needs being unmet is not out of the question. Also I am reminded of genetic pre-disposition. We are all wired a little differently and some of us are born with more sullen, introverted natures. I imagine that even in infancy those traits can be observed.
However, I don't necessarily think there is need for therapy unless the child has been abused or neglected. Mostly children just need to be loved and understood. Most importantly we should not pity them. Pity is crippling. Instead children need to be encouraged, supported and pushed in order for them to reach their potential. Without someone to push us we all tend to be lazy and never fully develop in the many areas where we have abilities. There is a window of opportunity when we are young. That window closes all too quickly.

The children they were talking about this morning were not abused or neglected at all.. And I agree any child abused or neglected needs therapy to learn not to repeat the situation and continue the circle.

They were talking about the run of the mill child who's parents are rich. Guess they don't spend enough time with their kids holding and coddling them. Just like our society has taught us that you need to let your infant cry it out. I do not believe in letting a child cry it out. As an infant, if they are crying, they have a need that needs to be met. I have 4 kids and used this philosophy on all of them. They are all great kids, not in trouble, they dont have social issues and the list goes on...

Therapy for babies? It's hard to believe how our world has become.