Should parents let babies cry it out for better sleep?
Child-rearing is a sticky subject: one that will drive people to shout, scream and preach about the right and wrong ways to do it. I don't believe anyone has the perfect answer. But that doesn't stop people from debating it! Articles like this pose a big question for parenting. Is it effective to let a child "cry it out" for a better night sleep? Or should parents be co-sleeping with their babies?One method points to something called "ferberizing." Many people may consider this tough love, but Dr. Ferber begs to differ. He states that leaving a baby to cry by itself is not recommended by his system. Instead, he suggests using his time chart for crying only when all other possible solutions have been exhausted. In other words, "ferberizing" should be used to try and fix severe sleeping problems with a baby.
Other people don't identify with his methods. Instead, they co-sleep with their child. Call it attachment parenting if you will, but this basically is the opposite of Ferber's system. Parents and baby share a bed, but they say parents need to have a clearly defined end for this stage. Controversies aside, this seems like an argument that can't be solved using one definite practice over another. As any parent will tell you, every child is different and should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-11-2008 @ 4:45PM
bob sakamano said...
Do you sleep better when you cry?
Reply
2-11-2008 @ 6:55PM
the goddess anna said...
I know I do. Crying is one way I relieve stress, and after a good one, I'm tuckered out and sleep well.
I credit the fact that my kids have slept through the night since three months old (all three of them) to the fact that I listened to their cries. Unless they were in pain, hungry, or scared, I let them learn how to self-soothe. Sometimes they just need to cry, and sometimes you'll drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what they want.