Should I Let My Baby Cry It Out

By Alyce Powell


There is no more difficult job in the world that that of new parent. Many people struggle with so many issues hoping that they are doing the best thing for their child. One of the most controversial issues for many years has been the best way to deal with crying. There have been dozens of books written on the topic and some very outspoken proponents of their methods. Yet it is every parents individual decision when the wonder should I let my baby cry it out.

Parents need to understand that the moment their child is born they will be bombarded with advice and opinions from well meaning friends and family. Many people are only to happy to give their ideas, without waiting to be asked. New parents are going through enough changes in their lives already and dealing with pushy family members will not help.

Once medical factors have been ruled out the parents should pay close attention to the times of the crying. Often keeping a journal is the best way to see if there are patterns forming. A simple notebook is fine. The parents must log down everything that happens. From the moment the child wakes up to the food they eat and even when they nap. Many times parents are amazed to see that the distress follows a clear pattern that they had not been aware of before.

The idea of letting children stay alone is also part of the modern industrial society. Prior to that generations of infants slept with their parents for warmth and safety. As they got older the children slept with their siblings. There was no concept of individual rooms or even beds. People usually slept on the floor close to a fire. In winter time this was essential to survival.

Other families feel strongly that the new arrival should be in their own crib and in their own room from day one. This method also has many advantages. The child can get a good nights sleep without interruptions. Their crib is the safest environment. It should not contain any additional blankets, pillows or stuffed toys as these can all be suffocation hazards.

Routines are crucial for both parent and child. Some babies seem to need a lot of sleep, others need less. However, establishing a reasonable bed time is good for everyone. The child should be fed, changed, burped and wrapped up warmly in comfortable clothing. Many people use swaddling as a way to help the infant feel safe and fall asleep.

Swaddling is one of the most time trusted methods of helping a new born get to sleep and stay asleep. The firm wrapping reminds the infant of the womb and helps them to feel secure. There are many great products on the market today that are specially designed with Velcro fasteners to make swaddling easy and safe.

There is no one correct answer to the question should I let my baby cry it out. What works for each individual infant and their parents is always the best. Getting lots of ideas to try is also a help.




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