Section 4: The Family Bed

Multiple-Choice Questions

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1. Encouraging or enforcing independence in our babies and young children promotes:

a. emotional maturity
b. independence
c. instils a fundamental belief that their needs will not be met
d. all of the above



2. Babies who sleep alone are often under stress. The biggest problem with that is:

a. they might grow up to be poor sleepers
b. stress produces cortisol, and too much cortisol can damage the brain and cause permanent problems
c. they might chew the bars of their crib
d. they might get used to being alone and not want to be with other people



3. A baby is safest when it sleeps:

a. in a room by itself
b.in a room with another young child
c. with its parents
d. in a room with the family dog



4. Unfortunately, sexual abuse of young children occurs. This may happen more easily if:

a. the abusing parent has a mental problem
b. the child sleeps with its parents
c. the child sleeps in a room by itself
d. the child has misbehaved



5. It's okay to let babies cry for long periods of time because:

a. it will clear their lungs
b. it probably won't produce enough cortisol to permanently damage the growing brain
c. it probably won't impair the child's sense of basic trust for the rest of his life
d. none of the above



6. Babies are given the ability to cry by nature. Why?

a. so that a baby can make life miserable for the parents
b. so that a baby's lungs will develop fully
c. so that a baby can feel important
d. so that a baby can signal others when it needs something



7. Our culture believes that we should all be independent of others and the earlier the better. This leads to:

a. a belief in "self-soothing"
b. a belief that a very young baby is trying to manipulate and control you
c. a belief in "letting the baby cry it out"
d. all the above



8. Which of the following problems might be the result of an infant failing to develop a sense of trust and emotional security.

a. needing a very expensive car
b. low self-esteem
c. an inability to maintain lasting relationships
d. all the above



9. If all babies slept with their parents, which of the following would happen?

a. the crib manufacturers would lose money
b. the manufacturers of Queen and King size beds would make more money
c. there would be more happy babies
d. all the above



10. Who said a baby crib is the breeding ground for many of the mental health and social ills in Western societies?

a. the creators of "Marlboro man" ads
b. Dr. Michael Commons, Harvard Medical school
c. 0prah Winfrey
d. Stone Cold Steve Austin