Should one let a baby cry themselves to sleep or pick them up and comfort them?

Question

Have a debate with a friend, I say comfort a crying baby,other person says bad idea, let them cry.......?

Answer 1

Depends on the age as the others say. Letting them cry it out is a bad idea. Soothing them when they are in distress teaches them many things. I regretfully listened to the advice of my mother with my first child and let her cry it out. She is not as empathetic as my 2nd child who I comforted for every cry. My younger child did not become spoiled as my mother had told me she would. My older child is the one who is far more needy and insecure today. I really believe this comforting them in distress thing was the difference.

Answer 2

I always comforted my crying babies. I know a lot of people who advocate letting them cry it out say they need to learn to self-soothe, but I always wondered how someone who couldn't walk or talk or in any way care for themselves was supposed to soothe themselves. A lot of people criticized me for always running to my babies when they cried, but they are now 18 and 11 and both are GREAT kids -- very together. The 18 year old was in the National Honor Society and is now getting ready to join the Coast Guard and the 11 year old is a straight A student. I can't say that constantly picking them up when they cried as babies is what made them turn out so great, but I think every little thing you do as a parent has an impact and as I liked to tell the people who criticized me, if, when my kids are older, I feel I made a mistake, it's too late to change it then. I'd rather make a mistake truly believing in my heart that I was doing the right thing than to go against my instincts and later find out I should have done what I felt was right. Sadly, you only get one chance to raise a child.

Answer 3

It depends on the situation. If the cry is one of pain like gas or a soiled diaper, then by all means comfort the child, however, I always let my babies learn how to soothe themselves to sleep.
I had a 10 minute rule. I allowed 10 minutes for the baby to cry itself to sleep. If at 10 minutes the crying has slowed down I left them to sleep, but if it was louder or it sounded like the baby was just not going to settle down, I went and got them.
All of my kids have been great sleepers. I always started this at about 3 months of age and after a month or so, they just went to sleep with little trouble.

Answer 4

It depends on the age of the baby.

For the first few months, a baby needs to be picked up and comforted. They do not have the mental ability yet to be taught to go to sleep, so letting them cry it out is cruel. When they are crying they need to be comforted.

Around 6 months of age you can start letting babies cry themselves to sleep. Around this time they learn the ability to be able to self-soothe. It can take a few nights where the baby resists going to bed on his/her own, but shortly they will thrive on the routine.

Answer 5

depends on the age. a child under 1 cannot understand the concept of crying it out. so might as well pick them up and comfort the infant.

if the child is over 1, crying it out is the solution. however if that kid is sick or barely ever cries in the middle of the night. it would be best to get up and check on them and comfort.

Answer 6

it depends on the age of the child it says at 6 months you should let them cry at bedtime but if it just keeps on and the baby doesnot go to sleep then i would go get them if you always pick up a crying baby you will have a hard time on your hands because the older they get they will want you to sit with them while they go to sleep and more than likley fight bed time

Answer 7

Hold and comfort a crying baby. It is impossible to spoil a baby. The more loved and secure they feel, the less they will cry.

Answer 8

25 years ago, they said let them cry, but now I think its different. Some crying is okay, but the age is a factor too. An infant isnt going to cry for nothing (for the most part). After about 6 months, they might start testing you!

Answer 9

It depends. Try and comfort them and see if they are hungry or need to be changed. Are they in pain? If no to all those than I'd say let them cry themselves to sleep. Some babies have colic and that is all you can do.

Answer 10

You could always try to rock them to sleep.I dont have any kids but i have found that up to 4-5 months they fall asleep pretty fast if you rock them or swing back n' forth.

If they are a little older i would try to let them sleep in the crib and fall asleep on their own.I've seen what happens when you pick a baby up cause they want to be heald when it's time for bed.That turns into ''hold me whenever no matter what'' then into a very demanding baby (my neice)..

i was actually told by a nurse to let them cry a bit.she said to get a baby monitor and listen in but dont take him out at the first cry.this was due to my friend trying to get her child to sleep in the crib cause she always had him sleep in her bed.

he cried a lot and she just couldnt do it.with tears in her eyes she went and got him out of the crib.

i dont know if he is spoiled but i know my neice is very spoiled now.she wont sleep in the crib at all now.