Letting baby cry himself to sleep?

Question

How long is too long for a going on 6 week old... he won't let me put him down and I know he is fine. Just feel so bad letting him do it!

I know you can't spoil a newborn - and I'm not leaving him in his crib to cry for more than 5-10 minutes. But I do go back in, rock him, soothe him - try giving more of his bottle. He's been fighting his sleep, and I don't know what else to do to help get him to that point where he stays asleep...

Answer 1

Hold him if he cries at this age. He may need comforting, and it's impossible for to spoil a child at this age. Affection is necessary for survival at this age.

When he gets older, he will try to get attention from crying, but that won't be for a while and you'll know it. But for now, he needs the comfort.

Your instincts are right on for this one.

Answer 2

O.K. This is the year 2007 and in this year we know that it is not possible to spoil a child under 3 months. That being said it has also been prov-en that when a baby cries it trains their blood pressure to rise which in turn trains them for high blood pressure.

Your baby may have gas and the comfort of your arms provides relief from the pain. If your 6 week old is crying that much you need to see his Doctor immediately.

Babies don't need to cry, Dr. Ferber has recanted his book. When my babies cry, we run because it means something is wrong. Neither are spoiled or whiny or anything but amazingly well behaved kids. My Doctor is convince it is because they know without a doubt that if Mom and Dad can help their discomfort or pain or fear we will. My now 2 1/2 yr old son is a little tough guy and if he cries something bad has happened.


Follow your heart when mothering this child, he is brand new in the world and may just need your comfort. Some breast fed babies are held 23 hours a day for the first month just to work out the feeding issues.

Good luck and I wasn't trying to blast you!

Answer 3

I think at 6 weeks old, it's too early to let a baby cry himself to sleep. At that age they are crying for a reason. I remember hearing something on Oprah...I researched it for you, maybe it could help? It's about listening to your baby's cries and figuring out what they're trying to say. I didn't believe it until I saw the show. Here's the link...

http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200611/20061113/slide_20061113_350_102.jhtml

If this doesn't work, it's always great to start a routine at bedtime. Bath, Pjs, feeding, singing, bedtime. It really helps the child to "know" what is happening next. Don't feel bad for "letting" your child cry! Babies need to know that they can't be held ALL the time. You need a break every now and again...so don't feel bad! You'll do great! Best of luck to you.

Answer 4

I bought the book "what to expect the first year" and I'm SO GLAD that I did. I won't let my baby cry EVER for more than a couple of minutes (usually while he's waiting for me to get his bottle ready)... ANYHOW, in the book it says that babies feel more confident about their parents and themselves when they feel they are being "heard". It says self-confiedence comes from having their needs promptly met when they cry. the book also says that even if you are holding your baby and TRYING to figure out what to do to console your child that the child is STILL benefiting from the knowledge that you are interacting with them. these children are said to grow up to be more confident and independant (just the opposite of what you'd think!) I have rocked my baby asleep MANY a night!

If you have a chance BUY THAT BOOK!

Answer 5

My baby is 6 weeks old too. Here is what I do. I let him cry for 3 min. then pick him up. After he calms down in my arms, I put him back to the crib. Let him cry another few min. Usually he falls into sleep at the 2nd round. You need to respond to babies when they cry so they learn to trust you. However, it doesn't hurt to wait a bit before you go to them. Eventually he learned to calm himself that way. Good luck!

Answer 6

Do not let a 6 week old baby cry himself to sleep. He is an INFANT. You can do this when he is 18 months, but not 6 weeks. Try swaddling.. try reading the book Happiest Baby on the Block and read about how to hold and soothe an infant. Good luck!

Answer 7

I struggled with this too when I had my second child. You read books and you see people on TV or hear people in public talking about "needing" to let a baby cry themselves to sleep in order to "teach" them to go to sleep alone.

I wondered if I would do that with my second....and this is my opinion....

When my baby cried, I comforted her....when my baby wouldn't lay down and go right to sleep without crying, I picked her up and I rocked her. When I was too tired to try to put her down, I laid down with her.

Why try to teach a six week old baby that he needs to cry himself to sleep. He probably just wants to know you're there. When he goes for his next nap, 2 hours later, he's not going to remember that he had to cry last time to go to sleep.

I think that method is better understood by a child several months older.

My daughter is 14 months and sometimes she goes to sleep with no problem, all I have to do is lay her down, and sometimes she just wants to be loved and comforted and if that's what she wants then I take the time to lay with her and sing her favorite song and watch her eyes close because she feels happy and safe.

I don't think those people who write books about the right methods or those doctors or just people in general that talk about what is the "right" way to do something realize that every baby is different.

Answer 8

Start SWADDLING him again like when he was a newborn. He may need that deep pressure feeling, then check on him every few minutes to reassure him you are still there but chances are SWADDLING him again will work. Look up how to do it again on the net if you forgot

I am a parent of 6 and Foster parent to 54 (mostly babies)
THIS WORKS!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

You can't spoil a newborn. You shouldn't let him cry, even if he's fine and just wants to be held. At this age, if he wants you to nurse him standing on your head balancing a bowling ball on one foot, you should do it.

The AAP recommends that babies sleep in their own cribs and not in bed with parents, but even my kids' pediatrician, who is an AAP member, says that if the newborn wants to be in bed with Mommy, you should let him as long as he is on his back. He told me to give them whatever they want for the 1st few months, and then start letting them cry it out later (we did it at 6 months with both kids on pediatrician's and nurse practitioner's advice).

Good luck.

Answer 10

6 weeks is far too young for him to cry himself to seep!
He does not really understand, trying to let him fall asleep on his own like that is probably making him very frightened and alone!! You are his protector and if you are not there after 5mins then he will get very worried!!

Don't listen to this cry to sleep crap!!
If you want him to fall asleep on his own put him in his rocker/bouncer and put him where he can see you. That way you can do your housework at the same time!!
Just dont stimulate him.

Good luck!!