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Babies Know Love

Babies Know Love

Can newborn babies recognize that you love them?

Love Babies

I don't believe that they can. They simply know who they like and who feeds them. Even if a mother abuses her baby, the baby still will cry for its mother and is ultimately forgiving based solely on her position as mother. I think a baby can see angry and happy, but little beyond that. A baby will continually go back to a parent even if it is obvious that the parent does not love them or care for them. But as always there are no absolutes when talking about this issue, I'm sure there are evidences that can be interpreted as the baby knowing that they are loved. But I think a baby doesn't really know what love is and will simply go back to the hand that feeds.

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I agree that babies are ultimately forgiving and will return to a parent who doesn't love them, but I do think they can feel that a parent loves them. They are not aware of the concept of love, but I imagine they can tell the difference between a loving touch and voice, and rough handling and harsh voice. But if all they know is the latter, I think it will harm them in the long run, because I do believe they can sense that it's not supposed to be that way.

My husband and I got into a debate about whether babies can love you back. He says they do, but I think they are incapable of returning love until they are much older. Until then they just absorb it.

Love Babies

I think babies know what love is, many times my little baby has been already fed, have slept and he would just want to be hold, kissed and talk to. I think that is love.

Love Babies

The concept of that ephemeral emotion we call "love" is the kicker here. Does an infant know when they are held by loving hands, rather than harsh ones? I think they do. Yes, they will always return to the mother or father even after harsh treatment because what other choice do they have? As Indygo stated, I think they can sense the wrongness of the harsh treatment, but what can they do? They depend on those people for their survival. However, in my opinion, when a child grows up knowing nothing but harsh conditions, that's what they will believe love is - I.e., if that's how my mother/father treats me, that must be love. Their concept of love will be distorted.

Roz

Offtopic but, How else does abuse get handed down from one generation to the next? "My father, who I believe loves my mother, beats her, and therefore I must beat my wife to show her I love her (or a woman may believe she must be beaten in order to be loved)." Or, "My mother loves me and she beats me, therefore I must beat my children to show my love for them." These may not be conscious thoughts, but are certainly acted upon.