CRYING "its good for the lungs"????

Question

i hear this all the time associated with the cry it out method...do you really think crying in excess is good for the lungs....i rmember it being painful crying untill you choke...i remember my lungs aching so badly...how is a baby crying untill his lips are blue good?.....do you believe this to be true or just an a old wives tale that helped people cope with alowing their infants to scream???

Answer 1

If crying is good for the lungs, than bleeding is good for the veins! It's an old mives tale, and since crying is the only way a baby can communicate, I believe that it vreats mistrust in your child when you don't respond to it's crying. It's ok for them to fuss for a bit, but letting a baby cry for a long time is awful!

Answer 2

Definitely an old wives tale. A baby should not be left to cry-it-out, especially before about 4 months old.

As late as just 20 years ago, some books would say that babies should cry 3-4 hours a day! SHOULD cry? That's awful!

Nobody believes that now. But then most of us are into attachment parenting now, where you basically follow the baby's cues and meet their every need. That can be going too far in the wrong direction, if you are not careful.

So, use your best judgment.

Here is what Dr. Sears has to say about it:

5. Belief in the language value of your baby's cry
A baby's cry is a signal designed for the survival of the baby and the development of the parents. Responding sensitively to your baby's cries builds trust. Babies trust that their caregivers will be responsive to their needs. Parents gradually learn to trust in their ability to appropriately meet their baby's needs. This raises the parent-child communication level up a notch. Tiny babies cry to communicate, not to manipulate.

Answer 3

If someone knows how to stop a baby from crying, more power to them. You can't just tell a baby to stop. It is an old WIVES tale that it's good for the lungs, though, but I've never seen a baby damaged by crying.

Answer 4

In the 50s and 60s, women were expected to be Stepford wives, and baby tending didn't leave much time for mopping, waxing, basting and baking. This horsesh*t was invented to reassure mothers that baby can wait until the pot roast is done. Now, we know that crying for long periods is not beneficial for lungs. It actually changes brain chemistry, possibly making baby more prone to depression as an adult. We now know that babies are more important than spotless houses, 24 inch waists and pot roast every Sunday. The whole cry-it-out thing continues because parents think it's convenient. It's really not that convenient, because those babies never really make peace with bedtime. Babies need to be parented to sleep. In the long run, it's easier on everyone.

Answer 5

Ohgods, I remember my son's dad telling me that constantly. "It's good for him, it exercises his lungs!" BULL****. Their lungs get plenty of exercise without prolonged screaming. Let's say it was to prevent infection of the lungs, after all, when an elderly person is bedridden they're often given PT that gets them to take deep breaths to prevent pneumonia. Okay, three or four deep breaths a few times a day. Not scream at the top of their lungs for ten minutes or more. A good yawn a couple times a day should suffice for an infant.

I'm not a doctor, just a biologist, so this is just my educated guess.

Answer 6

Only a little bit will help. But there was a study done that if you let a baby sit there and scream and cry for say a long period. That it can cause low oxygen and could effect the brain. I seen it on Dr Keith Ablow about a month ago

Answer 7

The "cry it out" thing has been proven to be ineffective in a child's life.

It has nothing to do with the lungs, but if he cries too much, the tears will drain down his throat and possibly cause a throat irritation/sinus problem, that could develop into bronchitis/pneumonia.....so I would say that crying is BAD for the lungs.

Answer 8

Its silliness...
My daughter doesn't cry ever... she is 10 months old
The doctor was so impressed with her heart and lungs at her checkup. Apparently she has a nice slow, steady heartbeat, and nice clear lungs. Signs of a healthy baby!
So yea, the "its good for the lungs" thing? It's madness. It is complete bull. Have you ever heard of letting a preemie cry to "strengthen" its lungs?? Absolutely not, they keep that baby as calm and quiet as possible. Energy used up for crying is energy wasted for growing, thriving, developing, learning, and bonding.

Answer 9

When they're a newborn it can help them clear the mucus from birth. When my son was born he had to have a lot of mucus suck out of his lungs. As for letting them cry for a prolonged period of time, I would say this don't do this. I have always been told that a baby under six months cannot be spoiled. When you cater to there needs and respond to their cries it lets them know their loved and helps them feel secure in the world around them.

Answer 10

I agree with Dr. Sears on this one: "Crying isn't good for baby's lungs", this is one of the most ridiculous pieces of medical folklore. In the late 1970's, research showed that babies who were left to cry had heart rates that reached worrisome levels, and lowered oxygen levels in their blood. When these infants' cries were soothed, their cardiovascular system rapidly returned to normal, showing how quickly babies recognize the status of well being on a physiologic level. When a baby's cries are not soothed, he remains in physiologic as well as psychological distress.