> they don't have higher order thinking yet. they dont have experience yet but they can understand what they are capable of understanding. i have four children and when i only had one i wouldnt have been in disagreement with this thread because i myself didnt have the experience. an infant can be encouraged to crawl, sit and walk earlier than theyd otherwise figure it out themselves. if that can be done then they can also be encouraged to go to sleep peacefully. or like when it is time for a one or two year old to leave the crib and sleep in their own bed, there is a period where this transition is like the end of the world for them, they will refuse to remain in their bed and throw a fit when laid back down. ultimately it is because they are afraid of something, usually it is missing out on having fun. you can fight them and it will be traumatic for everyone involved or you can encourage them by talking about how nice the next day will be. an infant cant understand everything you are saying but they can understand the theme of the interaction. in that circumstance frustration isnt encouraging but patience is.  can a puppy understand higher order thinking? an infant can understand far more than a dog can they are just limited on how they can express that. and yet how do you train a dog to behave as a dog ought to? by encouraging them to behave properly with positive reinforcement while also not spoiling them.
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