Pregnancy, Getting Pregnant, Ovulation, Baby Names, Newborn Advice, Nursery Design, Cool Mommy Communities and more: The Bump by The Knot

Unique Baby Names - Free Pregnancy Information - Free Parenting Tips - Parenting Forums

Join the Bump Rewards Program >>

About Our Experts
Our team of experts will answer all of your questions!
Fertility
Dr. Debbra Keegan
Obstetrics and Midwives
Dr. Ashley Roman
Denise Gershwin
Pediatrics
Dr. Cheryl Wu
Dr. Vicki Papadeas
Dr. Paula Prezioso
Adoption
Dawn Davenport
Nutrition
Nicole Meadow
Fitness
Tracey Mallett
Sleep
Conner Herman & Kira Ryan
Parenting
Tammy Gold
Breastfeeding
Andi Silverman
Style
Cynthia Rowley
Baby Planning
Melissa Moog
Melissa Gould & Ellie Miller
Sex
Pam Spurr


hot topics

Q: Cry it out?

Posted Tuesday, March 06, 2007 10:17 PM

Q: Should I really let my baby cry it out?

A: If there were a simple answer to that question, bookstoreshelves wouldn't be packed with advice guides on the subject! Atwo-second summary of the issue: Proponents of the “Cry it Out” method(sometimes called “Ferberizing” after creator Dr. Richard Ferber) saythat suffering through a few nights of listening to your little onewailing is essential to helping her develop good sleep habits.Opponents of this philosophy say that it’s cruel to let a baby cry inthe dark. Our advice: Do what feels right for you and your husband, butknow that very rare is the baby who learns to sleep through the nightwithout shedding some tears (and usually a few blood-curdlingscreams).  So if you’re at your wits’ end with night wakings,some sleep training might be a good idea. Before you decide toFerberize, discuss it at length with your mate. Sleep training willonly work if you’re both on board.

QA Index

Posted by Paula K
Filed under:

Comments

re: Q: Cry It Out?

I have had good luck with a book called the "No Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley.  The techniques take a little longer to work than the "cry-it-out" method but they are just as effective and less tramautizing for the baby.

Posted by winbd    Thursday, July 05, 2007 10:36 AM


re: Q: Cry It Out?

I highly suggest the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." Since putting the author's suggestions and tips into practice, my 4-month-old sleeps through the night most nights (if he wakes, it is just once and he goes right back to sleep after nursing) and goes down for his naps really well. He is predictable now and we got to this point with very little tears (from baby and mom). The author gives different strategies that work for different babies at different ages. The key is that not one strategy will work with all babies!

Posted by CarolinaKatie    Wednesday, December 26, 2007 7:52 PM


re: Q: Cry It Out?

We just did a sleep training with our 6 month old. We read about all different types of training and decided that we would do our own method (based on Ferber). I think it is important to choose one and stick with it for at least 2 weeks. Our son is sleeping some days from 6pm-2am (then we feed him) and wakes around 630. Other nights he has slept from 630pm-5 am. So it's just patience...Good luck!

Posted by dija2027    Wednesday, January 02, 2008 2:39 PM


re: Q: Cry It Out?

This is the first day of trying to let our son cry to get him to go to sleep. This is at the suggestion of our pediatrician. I thought he was too young since he is only six weeks old. He is telling me that it is never too early. It kills me to listen to him cry.

Posted by sarahb25    Monday, February 04, 2008 4:50 PM


re: Q: Cry It Out?

six weeks are you crazy!!! my pediatrician says no early then 4 months and if possible six, so does all the latest baby knowledge and research, until 4 months they are learning that you make them safe and comforted that you will always be there to take care of them and protect them! I am not even attempting to let my baby cry it out till he is 6 months old!

Posted by xXEgerBunnyXx    Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:05 PM


Q & A Index

Getting Pregnant Alcohol and TTC Alcohol's Effects on Sperm Basal Body Temp Basics Basal Body Temp Thermometer

Posted by Nest Baby Editor's Blog    Friday, April 25, 2008 3:23 AM


Q: Are blankies OK?

Q: My daughter seems to be especially attached to one of her blankets. Now I’m worried that she won’t

Posted by 6+ Months Q & A    Tuesday, April 29, 2008 2:14 PM


re: Q: Cry It Out?

I agree, 6 week old seems way too young to be left to cry....seek a second opinion....your baby barely knows you yet!

Posted by baby #2 on the way    Friday, May 02, 2008 8:54 PM


Q: Cry It Out?

If every household had a "Happi Tummi" waistband, dads and moms would get some sleep. I cannot say enough about the success we had with the Happi Tummi. Try it!

The product also let me bond better with our son.

Posted by caminhouse    Wednesday, May 14, 2008 4:16 PM


re: Q: Cry it out?

please do not let your six week old cry it out!!  Oh my Gosh!!!!!  I could just cry at the thought of that poor thing crying for mama!!  Please please seek a new Pediatrician, he/she gave you some incorrect advice, mama!

Posted by Hilarycee    Friday, June 06, 2008 2:00 PM


re: Q: Cry it out?

Change pediatricians!! Go to your 6 week old! This is when they are learning that to trust that you will be their when they need you.

Posted by MommaCassie    Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:36 PM


re: Q: Cry it out?

I agree with all the other posts, six weeks is far too young to let them cry it out. Pediatricians are experts in medicine, but not at night time parenting, all they have is their own experience and that is subjective. I am firmly against letting my daughter cry it out, because this teaches her not to trust her caregiver to respond to her needs. I recommend Dr. Sears The Baby Book, chapter on nighttime parenting. Our daughter sleeps practically through the night, sometimes waking once or twice.

Posted by Nora Borealis    Monday, July 07, 2008 1:08 PM


re: Q: Cry it out?

WOW!, I do believe that is very terrible. Please do not allow your newborn to "cry it out". My baby is a lil over 6 mths old and I just began a bedtime routine.  

Posted by bklynrose4ya    Wednesday, August 13, 2008 4:34 AM


re: Q: Cry it out?

Has anyone ever read any of the facts about letting a baby "cry it out"??  It can have extremely detrimental effects on them as they grow into adulthood!!  I for one am very against letting a baby CIO and I will never let my DD do this, regardless of her age.  There are times, when she is older, that she will cry to try and manipulate, but any smart parent will know the difference between that and real cries.  A 6 week old is far, far too young to let cry - any baby shouldn't be left to cry it out because this is the only way they can communicate with a parent/caregiver - they can't tell you in words what is wrong, so it's your job to go to them and figure out what is wrong, not to let them cry until they fall asleep, unanswered, unattended to, and feeling like their needs are not being taken seriously.  Baby cries for mama for SOME reason - so mama (or papa or caregiver) needs to figure out what it is.

Read this:  http://www.sleepnet.com/infant3/messages/534.html

Posted by jholtzman    Wednesday, September 17, 2008 2:00 PM


re: Q: Cry it out?

like someone else wrote above, we have been told by our Dr. to not let our DS cry it out until after 6 months of age. Its not healthy for your babies development and teaches them that you aren't there for them when they need you.

Posted by Mrs.West07    Friday, September 26, 2008 8:40 PM


Q: Vomitting when upset?

Q: My son has a tendency to vomit when he is upset. At night, he begins to cry and will work himself

Posted by 6+ Months Q & A    Thursday, October 02, 2008 1:44 PM


re: Q: Cry it out?

My daughter was a great sleeper from the get go and then began waking up almost every 2 hours after about week 5. I thought I was going to lose my mind! I started being more consistent with her bed time routine (bath, infant massage, a book if she doesn't begin to look sleepy and nursing) and now she sleeps wonderfully! She goes to sleep around 9:30 or 10 (I have tried to get her to go earlier, but no matter how sleepy she is she won't be out until those times) and generally sleeps til 4, nurses or takes a bottle, back in her bassinet until 7:30. Then we start our day with her big "Good morning, mommy!" smile. I am so glad we got here with no 'crying it out' nights, I don't think I could handle that. I just hope we can keep these nights as they are. She is only 12 weeks and it's been like this for about 5 weeks, but she's never been a co-sleeper, so that may help in the long run.

Posted by khail84    Saturday, November 15, 2008 9:09 AM


re: Q: Cry it out?

I use the 5 minute rule. If my baby girl is still crying after 5 minutes, I pick her up. Most of the time she falls asleep before then.

Posted by allysonctrs    Wednesday, December 17, 2008 10:50 AM


re: Q: Cry it out?

I don't see the point in letting a child cry it out.  Our babies need us and it is our job as their parents to go to them when they are crying.  Sorry but I knew when I became a parent that there would be a few sleepless nights

Posted by chris93078    Tuesday, December 23, 2008 2:57 PM


re: Q: Cry it out?

I can't believe a Doctor would say let your six week old cry it out! I , if I were you , would leave this Doctor immediately! A new baby that is what a 6 week old is is a NEW baby needs to know you are there. There has been a study that actual brain development is effected when babies are not attended to at early ages. It's called NEGLECT and your baby will pay the price!

Posted by keehnherring    Monday, April 13, 2009 9:16 AM


Anonymous comments are disabled