December 07, 2011
Q & A: My mother thinks I should let my baby “cry it out” at night
Q: My mother thinks I should let my baby “cry it out” at night. I want to hold her and feed her. I’ve looked into some of the theories, but there are so many different ideas out there! What should I do?
A: Follow your instincts to nurture your baby!
With no disrespect to your mother, neuroscience, psychology and attachment theory are giving us the evidence to support the fact that babies should not be left to “cry it out” at night. In order to understand what babies really need we must understand how the brain develops. Babies are not born with the ability to regulate their sleep. They need our help for a while after birth.
If your mother’s intention is to offer you relief, and she lives nearby, ask her to help with laundry and cooking, etc. so you can rest during the days with your baby and she can feel the satisfaction of being a good grandparent AND parent!
Tags: Answer, austin, baby, carrie, contey, Cry it out, Help, Mother, Q & A, Question, texas, tips