I have a 1 week old little girl, and at about 3am every night she cries and cries. I try to feed her, change her, hold her, sing to her...everything. but nothing can calm her down. My mom said that after I try everything possible to calm her down, if she is still crying to let her cry it out. The problem is, it breaks my heart to hear her crying. Is it a good idea to let a 1 week old cry it out or is there something else I can do???
2007-11-04 07:00:11 · 18 answers · asked by Redheads Are The BOMB 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Absolutely not! the ferber method is for older babies who need to learn to go back to sleep. a newborn needs to be sure mom will answer her and her needs! I would look at why she's crying so hard...check her fingers/toes for anything that might be binding them up. check to see if she is too warm or too cold. Does she have a rash or irritated skin from an allergy?
Is she suffering from reflux? My son would scream for hours on end and we finally found a doctor who would listen and the problem wasn't that he wasn't able to be soothed it was his stomach hurt so bad from a food allergy that caused him to vomit up everything he was eating.
Each baby is different in what it takes to soothe them back to sleep. Try swaddling her. Some babies like to be cuddled in mom's arms while being rocked others want to be up on your shoulder while you walk back and forth.
Something that works well for newborns especially is making a shhhuuushhuuu sound...it reminds them of your heartbeat.
2007-11-04 07:07:11 · answer #1 · answered by starfire978 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A child this young is not able to self-calm. If you let her cry it out, what she will be doing is crying until exhausted and then falling asleep. You will not spoil her by holding her.
Talk to your doctor about possible medical causes for her crying. If they say everything is fine, a lot of my friends have had success with the five S's from the book "Happiest Baby on the Block." I'm definately going to be using it with my next child.
Good luck
2007-11-04 07:07:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Please don't use cry it out on a one week old baby. Trust your instincts, you can't bear to hear her cry for a reason. She is crying because she has a need and that is the only way she has to express herself. She doesn't have the ability to understand cry it out. It really isn't something that needs to be used on a baby of any age. Positive independent sleep habits can be formed without using this method, but for now, just do your best and you will figure it out.
Congratulations on your new baby girl!
2007-11-04 07:08:20 · answer #3 · answered by josi 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Babies don't cry for no reason. If it is at the same time most days for at least 3 hours it is generally colic.
She's only 1 week old you should really take her to a doctor and make sure nothing is wrong.
2007-11-04 07:11:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
a 1-week old is only crying for a real reason. even the strictest parenting advocates would not tell you to let a 1 week old cry it out. if holding her and rocking her doesn't calm her down, then obviously needing to be near you (the reason to let a baby cry it out) isn't the reason she's crying.
is it possible she's colicy? try nestle goodstart formula if you aren't breastfeeding - it is MUCH gentler on the tummy. if you ARE breastfeeding, consider eliminating the gassier food from your diet (green peppers, beans, etc). strawberries and tomatoes can also cause colic.
also, talk to her ped.
2007-11-04 07:08:16 · answer #5 · answered by Kimberly G 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Maybe she is gassy. My son freaked out one night cause he was gassy. Give her some gripe water and burp her. It doesnt hurt to let them cry when they are older. But at that age something must be bothering her. My money is on gas or colic. You cant "spoil" a newborn. Its a confusing time for them. They dont know where they are or whats happening, everything is brighter, louder etc. If it makes you feel better hold her. Also take her to the doctor if it keeps up, it could be colic.
2007-11-04 07:06:51 · answer #6 · answered by Alexanders and Katherines mama 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I had the same prob with both my kiddos. Found out they were needing to be on lacto-free formula. THe crying lasted like 4-5 hrs every night- after the 2nd night i went to a 24 hr walmart and bought a sm can of lacto-free formula and it did the trick....
2007-11-04 07:06:09 · answer #7 · answered by *Momma and wifey* 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never let my daughter cry it out. I used to just walk around with her or rock her in the rocking chair until she calmed down. Ensure that she is well burped after every feeding. Built up gas can be causing her to cry.
2007-11-04 07:04:16 · answer #8 · answered by Precious 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I believe that letting a baby cry it out only teaches them that no one is there when they need something.
Just keep trying to soothe her, if she's dry, full, she will calm down when ready.
Babies do need to cry a certain amount of time every day to exercise the lungs (they really do) and apparently yours picks night time to do it. She will adjust eventually.
Just don't abandon her to let her cry and cry...... I don;'t think they develop trust in adults that way
2007-11-04 07:09:30 · answer #9 · answered by Squirrley Temple 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Actually there were some findings that letting your kids cry it out led to feelings of abandonment later in life, which makes sense.
If you're always there for your kids when they need you, then they'll build the confidence to make it on their own.
2007-11-04 07:48:44 · answer #10 · answered by Lauren 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋