Righteous pampering: Why God wants you to pamper and baby your child

Many parents think that children should not be pampered or babied, lest it "spoil" them. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents believe that children need to learn hard lessons. However, the Bible, when understood in context, recommends pampering and babying children, in a certain way. 

The Fifth Commandment is repeated in Colossians 3:20 KJV

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers here to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of parents. This highlighted word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parent and child in the family home. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, where parents are to perform good works for children, with children resting securely in the good works of parents. Good works here is defined as doing good things for children, meeting children's every vulnerable need, expecting absolutely nothing in return. See also Matt. 22:35-40, 25:31-46; 1Cor. 13:4-8. 

The Bible, as understood in context, calls for a certain specific form of pampering and babying children. For the first 6 years of childhood, children were in constant closeness to mothers, meaning that wherever mom went, so did her child. For the first 2 years of childhood, children were constantly held by mothers, either in her loving arms, or else on mom's back in a papoose bag when her hands were full. Between ages 2-6, children ranged next to mothers, seemingly attached at the hip, not allowing mom out of their line of sight, morbidly fearing that mom would "go away and never come back". Whenever  a child cried, mom cooed before picking up her child, and from there, she diagnosed the need before meeting it. Maybe the child was tired. Maybe the child was hungry Maybe the child needed mom's milk. Maybe the child needed mom, period. Whatever children needed then, they got it. When mothers and children under age 6 were out and about, mom wrapped up the child in swaddling blankets, with the swaddling blankets - and the child with them - being tucked underneath the loose-fitting, revealing dress that resembled an apron. Come nightfall, Christian parents in the Early Church co-slept next to their children, in skin-on-skin format. Children went naked wherever they went, with mothers also going naked within the context of the family home. This birth nudity setup helped facilitate easy skin-on-skin sustaining warmth, with children experiencing the rays of skin-on-skin contact merely when they were picked up. 

When children turned age 6, they wanted to do things on their own, namely play outside freely, while naked. Children in biblical times engaged in wet and messy play. Children explored the terrain, venturing farther and farther from home, getting into mud battles in the process. However, children had to check in with mom first, so that she knew where the children were going. Come evening, children were called by name - one by one - and were treated to a warm, homecooked meal coming from mom. Children, starting at age 6, alternated between closeness to mom, and time away from mom, with children staying away from parents more and more as they got older. 

Children growing up in the Early Church, while under age 6, were very much protected, in a sheltered sort of way. In the biblical context, there existed environmental hazards towards a child's life, namely  venomous snakes or scorpions, with there being no antivenom then. However, even today, there exists hazards that endanger a child's safety, namely busy streets and would-be kidnappers. Children under age 6 were too young and immature to appreciate the dangers that existed outside.

The depraved and entitled parents who punished their children through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices. Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!