The continuous concept: advantages and disadvantages in raising babies

The concept of continuum is a study that was developed by Jean Liedloff, an anthropologist who studied this concept among South American Indians. The 1970s approach to baby rearing recommended frequent skin-to-skin contact between parents and their children from birth to 12 months. Parents from various parts of the world have tried this method that promotes ff methods in raising babies:

• constant physical contact between mother and baby or with another caregiver from birth;
• co-sleeping in the parents’ bed, with constant physical contact, until the child leaves of their own free will, which normally begins at 2 years of age;
• breastfeed on cue: breastfeed the child in response to his needs and bodily signals;
• constantly carrying the child in its mother’s arms or in contact with someone (usually the child’s mother), and the child is allowed to watch, sleep, or nurse with the carrier while that person goes about their business (usually ends at 6 to 8 months when the baby begins to drag and crawl under its own power);
• have caregivers respond immediately to the child’s needs and cues, such as crying and squirming, without disgust, judgment, or invalidation of the child’s needs, and yet without showing undue concern or making the child the constant focus of attention;
• feeling and meeting the expectations of the elders of the child that he is innately social and cooperative, that the child has a strong instinct for self-preservation, and that he is welcome and dignified.

Pros and cons

Despite the fact that several parents claim that this method of raising babies has developed and created a strong bond between parent and child, there are still pros and cons that need to be weighed before using this method:

Feed on demand or breastfeed at just the right time

Advantages: Consistent breastfeeding stimulates the milk supply, allowing the mother’s breasts to learn to produce the right amount; the baby can be fed when hungry and not dictated by a scheduled feeding; Since babies gain comfort from suckling, this method allows them unrestricted access to their mother’s breast.

Disadvantages: This part of the method is time consuming and not effective for working moms.

Phase in arms or constant load of the child

Pros: Babies who are constantly held always have their needs instantly met and get plenty of first-hand information about the adult world, as they can observe adult activities like cooking and cleaning while being held.

Disadvantages: In this method, the mother’s sense of privacy or separation from her child is not allowed; Also, babies who are constantly held tend to be clingy, which makes the time to be separated from their mother a big ordeal.

Co-sleeping in parents’ bed

Advantages: Breastfeeding at just the right time is simplified with this method and it is no longer necessary to buy cribs and cots or even set up a nursery; Also, less anxiety is experienced when checking whether a baby is still breathing or not, since you can feel them breathing next to you.

Disadvantages: This method can be dangerous as there could be two adults in the bed with the baby; also the safety guidelines of using thick pillows and heavy duvets for babies will make co-sleeping restrictive; the transfer of the child to his own bed can be prolonged as she gets used to sleeping with her parents.

In short, the methods promoted by the Continuum concept are indeed a great training ground for raising happy children, since their priority is the instantaneous satisfaction of their biological and emotional needs. Children raised using this method will experience firsthand the love, care and support provided by their parents, as proximity makes it possible. But if both parents are working, especially the mother, this may not be a practical method, making constant physical contact an impossible goal to set at times when parents need to be away from home. But when weighing the pros and cons, nothing is more important than giving your children the love and support they need from the moment they are born to the age when they can claim their own independence.