Community Corner

Is it OK to Let a Baby 'Cry it Out' as a Method of Sleep Training?

Many exhausted parents believe it is, but some say it leads to emotional issues later in life. What do you believe?

For decades the debate has raged, sometimes between generations, about whether or not to let babies “cry it out" as a way to get to sleep.

Often it is the exhausted mother who continues to believe she can’t do it, not even for a few minutes. Now, however, a recent study appears to support that maybe she can, at least for a short while at a time.

Sleep deprivation for new parents is reportedly responsible for a host of issues, including depression in new mothers and marital problems.

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According to a Fox News article, a study published in Monday’s Journal of Pediatrics suggests limited returns to the room to offer some soothing appears to be acceptable. This was concluded after a study that followed children until they were 6 years old.

There are several opinions on how best to establish an acceptable sleep pattern ranging from those who believe it is better to let a baby “cry” him or herself to sleep to those who believe the baby should sleep in the bed with parents to provide for better bonding. Others believe somewhere in between these two extremes. Judith A. Owens, the director of sleep medicine at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., reportedly said, “A well-rested parent is going to be a better parent in the daytime."

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So what do you believe? Should a baby be allowed to cry, at least for a while, or do you believe that babies should not be left alone to cry at all? Tell us in comments. 


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