So, what do you think of the “let them cry it out” approach?

It’s really a matter of your judgment. Sometimes you should just let them cry, other times, tend to them. It’s a call you have to make yourself.

I personally don’t believe in the cry it out method because I have read too many studies about how it causes attachment disorders later in life. I can’t see taking that kind of chance with your child. And if you do let her cry it out you still aren’t going to get any sleep because anyone with a heart knows its tear-jerking to hear a little one cry. My recommendations would be when she wakes in the night-say nothing-don’t talk to her at all, just pick her up, give her a bottle of water, and put her back to sleep–and no lights on-maybe just a nightlight. She is old enough now that water won’t hurt her tummy and isn’t all that appetizing. One more thing, feed her a hearty snack right before putting her to bed at night. A few nights of this and the wakenings should become fewer and further between and eventually stop. Good luck to you!!

My oldest had colic for about the first 3 months and I was told just to let him cry it out but I just could not do it. My husband would get upset for giving into it, saying I was spoiling him but it was just to hard to lay in there and hear him crying his little lungs out So I spent alot of time in the rocking chair with him or let him be in his swing that was the only think that would calm him down.

I would never let my child cry it out for hours, but I have let them cry for up to 20 minutes before. Do you know she would cry for hours because you’ve let her cry that long before? If not, then she might not cry that long. Kids wear out pretty quickly from crying. If she is fed & dry I don’t see any reason not to let her cry it out. Eventually she might start just sitting up and playing with her toys/mobile, or she will stop crying for so long at least.

Letting a baby cry it out is cruel. They are crying to communicate with the parents, not to manipulate them. There is a reason that a crying baby bothers us….it’s human nature to respond!

It works for some. I have friends that swear by this method and others that wouldn’t do it if their life depended on it. I think it all depends on what type of parent you want to be. For me personally, I feel like if I let my child “cry it out,” then I am ignoring their needs. As babies, I never let my children cry it out, because this was the only way they could communicate with me. Now that they are older (4 &2) sometimes they do just need to cry. So I let them. I don’t consider this “crying it out,” however because by now, they know that I am always here for them if they need me. And now that they can understand language, they can hear me say (after all other options have failed), “I can see you need to get all your anger (or saddness or frustration) out. I’ll be in the kitchen (or living room or here on the bed) if you need me. They usually scream for a minute or two and then come to me for a hug, and we talk about the problem.

Good luck to you! And good for you for thinking on your own!

I think you’re doing what is best. I think doctors should stick to giving health advice and not parenting advice. I have heard so many doctors give bad advice when it comes to disciplining children. I once heard a doctor advise a mother to spray Bianca in her 4 year olds mouth when she bit someone, as if the child was a dog!

The only time I feel a child should “cry it out” is when they are a toddler and throwing a temper tantrum.

Do what is best for your daughter. There is no reason you should let her cry it out when you can comfort her. Ask her doctor only about health concerns. Good luck!

My daughter is four. I never let her cry it out. She has night terrors. I don’t want to her think that I won’t be there if she needs me.

Your doctor probably had a stay at home wife to take care of his kids at night and doesn’t have a clue.

I personally think its horrible to let a child cry their self to sleep they need security knowing someone is there. To know there is someone in your corner is the best feeling in the world no matter what age just think in a blink of an eye she will be grown and you wont have the chance to wipe her tears away or chase the monsters away plus it could be medical something could be hurting her love her while you have the chance believe me i know mine is in iraq wish i could hold himand wipe tears away good luck

I dont care what people tell to make themselves feel better, letting a baby cry it out is just flat out selfish to me. Crying is the only way a baby knows to communicate and if you ignore it, you are teaching the baby right from babyhood that you wont listen to them and wont help them solve their problems. They will not learn to rely on you and will not seek your advice. I truly believe that.

My baby didnt sleep through the night until she was a year old. I was so sleep deprived and all anyone ever told me was to cry it out but i just couldnt. When you are a mother you need to trust your instincts, i doubt cavemoms every let their babies cry it out, if they did the babies probably died. God gives mom that instinct that makes a mom do anything to protect her child and this is part of that instnct. Just because times have changed and crying isnt a matter of life or death anymore it doesnt mean that the instinct to reach out and comfort her is wrong. Listen to your instincts.

That said, i know its hard to function when you are extremely sleep deprived and thats when you need your spouse or family member to help. But someone should always attend to the child. I dont refer to the situation when the child is older and is crying for attention. By then you will know why your child is crying and can make the decision if it needs to be ignored. But at nighttime, when they are sleepy or sick or teething they need your security.

So how did i get my baby to sleep through the night? I read this book called ” The no-cry sleep solution for infants” by Elizabeth Pantley. It saved my life. Trust me, the techniques in it required a lot of commitment but in 30 days she was sleeping through the night. I was extremely against letting her cry it out so i was able to stick to it. You can too. I believe in it so much that i now buy that book as a baby shower gift for my friends.

Again to me, letting them cry it out may work for some and work faster but it is still selfish. A mom should be the epitome of unselfishness when it comes to her children. My children’s sleep and security will always come before mine. And as for the person who said they let their baby cry for 2.5 hour and finally the child threw up and passed out, SHAME ON THEM! How can you do that to your baby? He relies on you to be there for him. They werent when that baby suffered like that.