Should a baby cry it out? What was your experience and outcome?

We let him cry it out for about half an hour before I go in. I can’t stand listening to him cry and scream. But he’s starting to get it. It just doesn’t work for everyone.

Crying it out for a baby is scientifically proven to cause chemical reactions in the brain that are bad for their development. If a baby is crying there is a reason, even if it’s just to be held. Holding and comforting them establishes trust and delivers feel good endorphins that are good for development. Hence why hospitals like mothers to do skin to skin after birth.

There’s no way I could just let my baby lay in his crib and scream & cry. My instinct the second he starts to cry is to pick him up and find out what’s wrong. I have had times where I’ve tried EVERYTHING and he just kept crying so I set him in his crib, walked away, took a minute to myself, and went back to pick him up. If I feel like I’m overwhelmed and I’m about to break down, I take a minute to collect my sanity. If you’re overwhelmed and upset, it isn’t going to help your baby calm down, so it’s okay to take a minute or two for yourself. But I do not believe in letting your baby scream for any longer than that.

I can tell by my kids cry if it is something that they need or if they're just fighting their sleep. If they're crying, I'm going in there. If they're doing their "fake" cry/whining I'll wait it out. But when they're newborns, I get them the second they're making a fuss.

You CANNOT spoil a baby. Period. They're used to being inside of you & having that comfort. Babies need to be hugged, kissed, and nurtured. CIO method is outdated and not how a baby should learn life.

Now, I am the type of mom that will wait until the child/baby cries when they trip or fall. I don't get dramatic if they lose balance. If they need comfort, i comfort. But I teach them independence when necessary.

@hail I have had to do the same thing a few times. That was probably one of the best advice ever given to me. My mom told me this when I was pregnant: "if you ever feel overwhelmed, put baby down in his crib. Walk out, close the door and take a few minutes to collect yourself. Your baby can sense stress and frustration. So once you calm down, get baby, and things should smooth out."

I remember the first time I had to do this, with my son, I called my mom crying telling her I felt horrible and whatever else. She reassured me baby will be perfectly okay. We are human and can only handle so much at a time.

It's good to collect yourself, it's not being selfish. We have to be best for our babies.

@nschlegel, I was 17 when I had my son so I rolled my eyes every time my mom told me how to do anything with my son. But one night he just wouldn’t stop crying. I changed him, fed him, burped him, tried shushing and rocking, pacifier, toys, a bath, everything. I was bawling my eyes out and felt like a horrible mom. My mother told me to just try it and set him down, walk away, get myself together and then go back. I did and after I picked him up, he stopped and fell asleep in my arms. I apologized 10000 times to my mom and thanked her for saving me. 😂 It was a rough night. I rarely ever let him cry but I needed that 3 minutes. I would’ve lost my mind without it.

@hail exactly! I was a young mom as well. I cannot tell you how many times I've called my mom crying and apologizing... which made her laugh because she technically didn't give birth to me (married my dad when I was 12). But she raised me so I give her all the credit. Haha

I let min do it but if it exceeds over 15 min then i go and soothe him bc he overheats .but some days it works well

I let mine cry it out a few times. I hated it but it worked

But i never let him do it over 10 mins I couldn't 😂

No, never. I don’t want to teach my girl that if she needs or wants something that I won’t be there. I personally find it disturbing.

I’ve never let any of my babies cry it out! It’s heartbreaking. I do whatever it takes to help them, that’s the only way babies can express themselves and it’s our job to figure out why they are crying

I think cry it out is appropriate depending on the age. I let my 18 month old cry it out. He will cry for about like 5-7 mins when he goes to bed. Then he starts talking to himself and eventually goes to sleep. I would never let a child under 1 cry.

Age and situation determine a lot. Infants, no. Never let them get it out. But as they get older and can communicate better, try everything to see if there's actually a problem but sometimes kids just cry especially if they don't like something, like taking away something they shouldn't play with or going to bed etc.. Never under 12-18 months though.