Picking up infant too much?

[playfelt]

There are differences between wants and needs. The child is not a helpless infants that "needs" you to do things for him. He might "want" to have that but you would be doing him a favour as the director although maybe not in the nicest way suggested by encouraging him to explore his new abilities of crawling, pulling up to a stand, walking, making a ball roll, building a tower with 2 blocks.

There are also ways to encourage the child to be more independent without being so negative either. Ignore the demands for up - do not get down to his level because that gives a false sense of hope of being picked up, instead pat his head or back or just touch his arm and tell him it isn't cuddle time right now it is playtime and then hand him a toy, turn him in the direction of a bin of toys. Saying "it isn't cuddle time right now; it is playtime" acknowledges his feelings without giving in to him and it sounds politer and friendlier than what some of your coworkers are saying but the end result should be the same.