When a child is hurt, physically or emotionally, the child seeks solace from the parents and they also comfort him. Since this is a normal phenomenon and comes to both the child and the parents naturally, it is correct. However, there are some parents who want their child to grow up being brave and so may resist their natural impulse to comfort the child.
A child below the age of 4 months cannot be spoiled and so the parents should comfort him at the first instance. However, as the child grows older it is better not to make a fuss about small injuries, but rather just console the child and send him back to play. Parents should not desist from comforting a hurt child, thinking that this way; he will learn to be tough and brave. A secure child (secure emotionally in the family atmosphere) isn’t made “timid” by comforting.
Some children start crying on the slightest pretext. They are very sensitive. Small hurts and aches mean a lot to them. This is because parents were overprotecting the child and used to fuss over him for petty things. It can happen to a child who is born after many years of marriage or to a second sibling if the parents feel guilty that there has been some lapse on fheir part in bringing up the first child.
So they shower all their attention on the second one, don’t scold or set firm limits on him, and are always taking his side. Even small complaints of the child are met with excessive attention and fuss. Such babies usually are “soft” and may be ill equipped to face the life later on, because they are so much dependent on their parents.