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Au cours des décennies, beaucoup d’études psychanalytiques de développement des enfants de moins d’un an ont conclu que la mère doit calmer un bébé qui crie. Contrairement à la recommandation des comportementalistes, qui suggèrent que la mère laisse l’enfant pleurer sans l’apaiser, les informations de chercheurs de diverses orientations psychanalytiques concluent que le bercement, l’alimentation, et l’apaisement verbal pour les images maternelles primaires sont requis pour préparer à la santé mentale de l’enfant pendant le reste de son développement.

A number of psychoanalytical studies in the field of child development have concluded down the years that mothers should indeed attempt to appease their baby if they are crying and if they are under the age of one year. Contrary to the recommendations of behavioural psychologists, who suggest that the mother should leave the baby to cry without attempting to appease it, the information gathered by researchers in various branches of psychoanalysis have concluded that cradling, feeding and speaking softly to the infant from primary maternal images which are necessary in laying the foundations of the child’s mental health for the rest of his or her development.