# 14.嬰兒管理 [TOC=3,5] ## 14 Baby management ## 嬰兒管理 ### 14.1 Rich learning ### 豐富的學習 Pediatricians often call babies perfect learning machines, however, memory in early childhood is actually awful \(see: [How baby brain does not work](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/How_baby_brain_does_not_work)\). 兒科醫生經常稱嬰兒是完美的學習機器，然而，兒童早期的記憶實際上很糟糕（參見：嬰兒大腦如何不起作用）。 In terms of motor skills, a 3 year-old is almost a complete human being. In terms of speech, it is just the beginning. Abstract learning and abstract executive function will start even later. 在運動技能方面，人在三歲就幾乎完善了。就說話而言，這僅僅是個開始。抽象學習和抽象執行能力將更遲地開始發展。 It is true that the brain proceeds with explosive development in the first years of life. Development does not necessarily need to equate with learning. Sometimes it is just unsophisticated growth and structure remoulding. However, it is good to always remember development is guided by early experience. That early experience shapes the character, procedural capacity, pattern recognition, skills, and other aspects of brain "personality". Thinking of a child brain as a learning machine is good when it comes to ensuring the exposure to experience. Sometimes we call it stimulation. Stimulation is good as long as we do not forget that overstimulation is also possible. For example, night time is time for sleep, not for stimulation. A brain tired with one type of stimulation will do better with a change in stimulation or just a break from exciting stimuli. There is an optimum exposure to stimulation and there is a very simple strategy for making sure the kid gets just as much stimulation as it needs: let the kid decide herself! All the parent needs to do is to provide necessary freedoms and follow natural cravings. 確實，大腦在生命的最初幾年里會爆發性地發展。但發展不一定需要等同于學習。有時它只是簡單的增長和結構改造。然而，我們最好始終記住發展是由早期經驗指導的。早期的經驗塑造了大腦「人格」的特征、程序能力、模式識別、技能和其他方面。在確保接觸經驗時，將兒童大腦視為學習機器是很好的。有時我們稱之為刺激。刺激是好的，只要我們不忘記過度刺激也是可能的。例如，夜晚是睡眠的時間，而不是刺激的時間。對一種刺激感到疲倦的大腦，在刺激變化時或從刺激中得到休息時，會表現得更好。有一個最佳的刺激接觸，有一個非常簡單的策略，以確保孩子獲得所需的刺激：讓孩子自己決定！所有父母需要做的是提供必要的自由并遵循自然的渴望。 > All the child needs for healthy development is access to rich environments and freedom to navigate those environments > > 兒童健康發展所需要的一切是進入豐富的環境和自由瀏覽這些環境 ### 14.2 Micromanaging baby development ### 微觀管理嬰兒發育 With all the talk of early stimulation or early education, we seem to have already designed baby life to suit adult needs. Instead of ensuring optimum environment for development, we package babies for easy handling. It all begins in pregnancy. The delivery itself is often initiated with a volley of drugs. If the mom's body refuses to obey orders, it is pumped with more drugs. Some of those attempt to make the procedure comfortable, e.g. painkillers. Others are supposed to make it expedient, e.g. oxytocin. More and more moms and doctors take an easy way out: a C-section. There are many consequences of this chemical, hormonal, and mechanical intervention. Some of these may still be unknown or not fully understood. Some consequences may last a lifetime! 隨著所有關于早期刺激或早期教育的討論，我們似乎已經設計了適合成年人需求的嬰兒生活。我們不是為了確保最佳的發展環境，而是將嬰兒包裝起來以便于處理。這一切都始于懷孕期。生產本身通常是通過大量藥物開始的。如果媽媽的身體拒絕服從命令，就會被注入更多的藥物。其中一些試圖使手術變得舒適，例如止痛藥。另一些則被認為是權宜之計，比如催產素。越來越多的媽媽和醫生采取簡單的方法：剖腹產。這種化學、激素和機械干預有許多后果。其中一些可能仍然未知或未被完全理解。一些后果可能持續一生！ Herein begins a life destined for micromanagement and convenient design. Visit a baby shop and it is all jam packed with tools of convenience. Baby shops come handy with endless must-have checklists: feeding bottles, breast pumps, car seats, potty training accessories, electronic nannies, cots, warmers, sterilizers, fancy baby food, bibs, cribs, endless skin care products, humidifiers, etc. These all product treat a baby like the most fragile household item, while a baby actually mostly needs its mom's warmth, touch, and breast. Amazing, those are often denied in the first place with babies shunted to baby wards or placed in separate cots for the night. American Academy of Pediatrics, for safety reasons, recommends against co-sleeping, which has been anointed by [millions of years of mammal evolution](http://super-memory.com/articles/sleep.htm#Child.27s_own_bed). Instead of providing a close attachment, and free movement, we resort to a medieval practise of swaddling that severs the link between the brain and the limb. 在這里開始了一場注定微觀管理和便利設計的生活。參觀一家嬰兒用品店，這里擠滿了方便的工具。嬰兒用品店配備無盡的必備清單：奶瓶、吸奶器、汽車座椅、便盆訓練配件、電子保姆、嬰兒圍欄、保溫器、消毒器、花式嬰兒食品、圍兜、嬰兒床、無盡的護膚品、加濕器等。這些產品都把嬰兒當作最易碎的家居用品，而嬰兒實際上主要需要媽媽的溫暖，觸感和乳房。令人驚訝的是，這些通常被拒絕，嬰兒被分流到嬰兒病房或者在晚上分開安置在嬰兒床內。出于安全原因，美國兒科學會建議禁止共同睡眠，而這種做法已被哺乳動物數百萬年的進化過程所推崇。我們不是提供緊密的附著和自由運動，而是采用中世紀的襁褓練習來切斷大腦和肢體之間的聯系。 Soon we package babies in **cages on wheels**, affectionately called perambulators. Those contraptions have been invented in the 18th century and we slowly start forgetting how original baby transport should look like. We can only take our inspiration from primitive tribes and other primates that simply carry babies around in their arms. It seems baby carriers are the most natural safe modern replacement. I am not sure if they would get orthopedic approval for their straight-jacket nature, however, I am sure they are the best option for the developing brain at very least. A baby in a carrier can see the world around it. It has untold benefits for its ability to recognize 3D patterns, esp. in combination with head mobility. Instead, in a pram, all a baby can see is a rolling flat skyline with occasional attractions in the shape of a tree branches and street lamps. A new trend of [babywearing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babywearing) might be the right way to satisfy the perfect learning machine in terms of baby transport. The only time I am happy about prams is when see those brave grannies linger out for 6 hours in a frosty weather with a sleeping baby. In there, I see sound sleep and those brain cells proliferating right in front of our eyes. 不久，我們將嬰兒放在**輪子上的籠子**里，親切地稱為嬰兒車。這些裝置是在 18 世紀發明的，我們慢慢開始忘記原始的嬰兒運輸應該是什么樣子。我們只能從原始部落和其他只攜帶嬰兒的靈長類動物中獲取靈感。嬰兒背帶似乎是最自然安全的現代替代品。我不確定他們是否會因為緊身衣的性質而獲得骨科的贊同，但是，我相信它們至少是發育中大腦的最佳選擇。背帶上的嬰兒可以看到周圍的世界。它具有識別三維圖形的能力，尤其是結合頭部的靈活性，這給它帶來了不可估量的好處。相反，在一輛嬰兒車中，所有嬰兒都能看到的是一個滾動的平面天際線，偶爾還有樹枝和路燈的形狀。在嬰兒運輸方面，一種新的嬰兒袋趨勢可能是滿足完美學習機器的正確方式。我唯一一次對嬰兒車感到高興的是，看到那些勇敢的老奶奶在寒冷的天氣里和睡著的嬰兒徘徊了 6 個小時。在那里，我看到了良好的睡眠，那些腦細胞正在我們眼前激增。 ### 14.3 Caging toddlers ### 馴服幼兒 At toddlerhood, the list of restrictions and baby-proofing keeps increasing. All imaginable devices are supposed to keep toddlers safe, while supervised exposure to dangerous contexts is the best long-term protection. In the end, while parents are busy with their own lives, **kids are safe, but learn nothing about safety**. There are endless protections from bacteria, viruses, parasites, animals, allergens, plants, and dirt. This cripples the developing immune system and causes life-long health problems that also undermine cognitive development. While daycare is said to be a good proving ground for the immune system, it usually ends up undermining child's long term development \(see: [Daycare infections](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Daycare_infections)\). Similar myths related to [learning acceleration](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Learning_acceleration_via_stress) may have adverse effects on brain growth. 在幼兒時期，限制和嬰兒防護措施列表不斷增加。所有可以想象的設備都應該保持幼兒的安全，而有監督的接觸危險環境中是最好的長期保護。最后，雖然父母忙于自己的生活，但孩子們是安全的，但對安全一無所知。細菌，病毒，寄生蟲，動物，過敏原，植物和污垢都有無窮無盡的保護。這會破壞正在發育的免疫系統，并導致終身健康問題，同時也會破壞認知發展。雖然據說幼兒園是免疫系統的良好試驗場，但它通常最終會破壞兒童的長期發育（參見：幼兒園感染）。與學習加速相關的類似錯誤觀念可能對大腦發育產生不利影響。 The old-and-tried approach to food allergies is to "eliminate". Instead of a safe natural exposure, an increasing proportion of kids is fed on **designer diets that have limited natural nutritional value** and an increasingly dangerous foreign chemical content. 對食物過敏的老辦法是「消除」與安全的自然接觸不同，越來越多的孩子吃的是**設計師設計的食物，這些食物的自然營養價值有限**，而且含有越來越危險的外來化學物質。 The list of restrictions in exercise and exposure is endless. We deprive kids of the benefits of barefoot training by an array of heavy boots. We limit finger and palm movements by the shackles of fingerless mittens. We lock kids in high-chairs to make feeding easy. We prevent efficient **thermogenesis** with layers of clothing, hats, quadruple blankets, and bath thermometers. Instead, we engage in on-demand training that fits our convenience. 鍛煉和暴露的限制清單是無窮無盡的。我們通過一系列厚重的靴子剝奪了孩子們赤足訓練的好處。我們通過無指手套的束縛限制手指和手掌的動作。我們將孩子們鎖在高腳椅上，以方便喂食。我們通過各種衣服、帽子、四層毛毯和浴溫計來防止有效的**產熱**。相反，我們參與符合我們便利性的按需培訓。 Humans are the only animals with a bladder that require **potty "training"**. It is not that babies are dumber than primitive animals. The training serves the adult world. 人類是唯一一種膀胱需要**便盆「訓練」**的動物。嬰兒并不比原始動物笨。這種培訓服務于成人世界。 Baby sleep management is supposed to help babies **sleep when we want them to sleep, not when their brains demand sleep**. This form of training is futile, esp. that it begins even before the [circadian cycle develops](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Baby_sleep). Sleep management results in arrays of cots in daycare filled with babies forced to sleep at a time when they would rather play or even run. 嬰兒睡眠管理被期望用于幫助嬰兒在**我們想要他們睡覺時睡覺，而不是在他們的大腦要求睡眠時**。這種形式的訓練是徒勞的，尤其是它甚至在晝夜節律周期開始之前就開始了。睡眠管理的結果是，在幼兒園里有一排嬰兒床，里面的嬰兒被迫在他們想玩甚至想跑的時候睡覺。 Early weaning helps moms get back to work. All those procedures involve a stress for the baby, and a stress for the mom. It is all unnecessary. It results in [daycare misery](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Daycare_misery). There is even an idea of the nighttime feeding schedule with cruel awakenings for a healthy baby. Fortunately, I have known no parent who would go that far. 早期斷奶有助媽媽恢復工作。所有這些程序都會給寶寶帶來壓力，給媽媽帶來壓力。這都是不必要的。這導致幼兒園的苦難。甚至還有一種想法是，為了讓一個健康的嬰兒在夜間醒來時痛苦地進食。幸運的是，我不知道父母誰會走得那么遠。 Then there is a perfect conformist metaphor: baby dummy. A tool with a dozen of counterindications for health and child psychology. To me, a pacifier says: "_Shut up! You got your milk already? No titty for you_". I sympathize a bit. Breastfeeding in public is still seen as perversion by many. Peer pressure makes it hard to be a good mom. 還有一個完美的循規蹈矩的類比：嬰兒假人。一種工具，有十幾種健康和兒童心理學的反適應癥。一個安撫奶嘴對我說：「_閉嘴！你已經喝牛奶了？沒有乳頭給你。_」我有點同情你。在公共場合哺乳仍被許多人視為變態。來自同伴的壓力讓你很難成為一個好媽媽。  > **Figure:** Baby dummy as a shut up metaphor. > > **圖：** 嬰兒假人作為閉嘴類比。 ### 14.4 Parental crime \#1 ### 父母罪行 1 Some kids get sent to daycare in their first months of life. This often necessitates the enforcement of the obligatory **wake up time**. This sets a kid on a long-lasting brain-limiting habit of waking up against the demands of the body clock. Some kids [never recover](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/War_of_the_networks) from that waking ritual, which may extend for decades. Their [circadian control system](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Brain_map) gets permanently damaged leading to lifelong sleep disorders that affect the well-being of the population. For more see: [Science of sleep](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Science_of_sleep) 有些孩子在生命的最初幾個月就被送到幼兒園。這通常需要強制執行**起床時間**。這讓孩子養成了一種長期的大腦限制習慣，即習慣于滿足生物鐘的要求。有些孩子永遠不會從醒來的儀式中恢復過來，這可能延續數十年。他們的晝夜節律控制系統遭到永久性損害，導致終身睡眠障礙，影響人們的健康。更多請參見：睡眠科學 ### 14.5 Preschool drills ### 學前訓練 For preschool, there is a perfect torture device: multi-seat toddler desk where kids are mounted and immobilized inside a single semi-circular desk, with high backseats that ensure face orientation towards the "teacher". This is an perfect anti-[ADHD](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/ADHD) device. Fidgeting, head movement, and own interests are considered a bad thing. 對于學前班來說，有一個完美的折磨設備：多座位的幼兒桌，孩子們被固定在一個半圓形的單張桌子里，有高高的后座，確保面向「老師」。這是一個完美的抗 ADHD 設備。坐立不安，頭部運動，以及自己的興趣愛好都被認為是一件壞事。  > **Figure:** Multi-seat toddler desk is a preschool torture device. [The brain says "keep exploring"](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Education_counteracts_evolution). The authoritarian teacher says "Stop moving! Read my lips!". For more see: [Would you have a heart to cage a puppy?](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Would_you_have_a_heart_to_cage_a_puppy%3F) > > **圖：** 多座位幼兒桌是學齡前的折磨設備。 [大腦說「繼續探索」](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Education_counteracts_evolution)。 專制的老師說「別動！注意聽！」。 欲了解更多信息：[你會忍心把小狗關在籠子里嗎](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Would_you_have_a_heart_to_cage_a_puppy%3F)？ ### 14.6 Exposure is good ### 接觸是好的 In the end, it is good to look at babies as perfect learning machines. Their development is guided by the exposure to environmental stimuli and we need to be constantly aware not to cut off those natural inputs. 最后，將嬰兒視為完美的學習機器是件好事。他們的發展受到環境刺激的影響，我們需要不斷地意識到不要切斷那些自然輸入。 Now back to that perfect learning. Science of memory will tell you it is far from perfect, and we need to take a major correction for that in educational strategies. See: [How baby brain does not work](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/How_baby_brain_does_not_work). 現在回到那個完美的學習。記憶科學將告訴你它遠非完美，我們需要在教育策略中對此進行重大修正。請參閱：嬰兒大腦如何不起作用。 ### 14.7 Summary: Baby management ### 摘要：嬰兒管理 * modern baby "management" results in harmful restrictions in the exposure to healthy natural stimuli * 現代嬰兒「管理」導致對健康自然刺激的有害限制 * moderate exposure to pathogens and allergens is vital for the health of the immune system * 適度接觸病原體和過敏原對免疫系統的健康至關重要 * early academic teaching may slow down brain development and begin a lifelong hate of learning * 早期的學術教學可能會減緩大腦發育，并開始終身厭惡學習 * keeping kids safe with proofing makes it hard to teach them safety * 通過防護措施保證孩子的安全，這使得教他們很難安全 * overstimulation can best be prevented by letting kids decide their exposure to stimuli * 通過讓孩子決定接觸刺激來最好地預防過度刺激 * all forms of medical intervention during pregnancy and birth may have negative impact on health * 懷孕和分娩期間的所有形式的醫療干預可能對健康產生負面影響 * circadian system and sleep patterns develop slowly over the first year of life * 晝夜系統和睡眠模式在生命的第一年緩慢發展 * co-sleeping is a natural way of sleeping and breastfeeding * 共同睡眠是一種自然的睡眠和母乳喂養方式 * waking kids in the morning can have consequences that may last a lifetime * 早起的孩子會產生可能持續一生的后果 * kids should sleep when they are sleepy, not when we think they should sleep * 孩子應該在困倦時睡覺，而不是在我們認為他們應該睡覺時睡覺 * all limits on the freedom of movement, slow down development * 對行動自由的所有限制，減緩發展 * exposure to changes in temperature ensures good thermogenesis that forms one of the most powerful body defenses \(e.g. against infections\) * 暴露于溫度變化確保良好的產熱，形成最強大的身體防御之一（例如抵抗感染） * for brain development, baby wearing is superior to using strollers * 對于大腦發育，把小孩背在身上優于使用嬰兒車 * baby dummy is a poor substitute of the breast * 嬰兒假人是乳房的不良替代品