One of the most heartbreaking sounds for any new parent is the wail of a crying baby . Upon hearing this, our initial reaction is to immediately come to their rescue and try to take their pain away.
But did you know that by running every time your baby cries , that you may actually be hurting more than helping? It may sound counterintuitive but recent studies suggest that it’s actually OK to leave a baby when they’re crying.
RELATED STORIES
The first thing that new parents have to understand is that allowing your child to “cry it out” is perfectly natural.
Many walk around with the misconception that by leaving their child alone while crying, that they’re at risk of causing permanent emotional trauma to their baby.
A study conducted by *The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry* asserts that babies who were left to cry on their own suffered zero negative consequences as a result.
There were also no signs whatsoever that this damaged or strained the parent/child relationship.
Leaving your baby alone while crying will also help it to build self-control.
Your child is smarter than you might imagine. Even a baby will quickly begin to understand the basic principles of cause and effect — they cry and you come running.
When you allow your children time on their own, they will begin to understand how to calm themselves down.
This is crucial when it comes to babies developing an ability to self-regulate — especially at night times. So if you value your sleep, it’s worth noting.
While we’re on the topic of sleep, self-soothing will also help your baby to sleep better!
That’s right parents, both you and your baby can actually wind up sleeping better simply by allowing the child time to cry it out on their own.
According to the “The Baby Sleep App” project published on reseachgate.net, babies who were left to cry on their own not only fell asleep faster.
Not just that, but they also woke up fewer times throughout the course of the night.
Remember that crying is one of the best ways for an overstimulated baby to release its pent up energy.
Crying is a baby’s only means of communication for the first few months of its life. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that your child is in distress whenever they so happen to cry.
This is also pretty much the only way that a baby learns how to transition from being awake to falling back asleep.
It may take some time, but most parents usually see noticeable results within the first 3-4 nights.
Another positive side effect of better sleep is fewer temper tantrums!
To be clear — I’m talking about both the parents and the child. A child with a regular sleep pattern will be more rested and far less susceptible to random and uncontrollable energy outbursts.
Not only that but studies have shown that this produces much happier babies overall.
Ones who look forward to nighttime and won’t put up a fight every time you try and put them to sleep.
Most importantly above all else — letting your child cry it out will help them learn how to go to sleep on their own.
That means no more nighttime routines with seemingly no end in sight.
Establishing these habits early on will in effect train your baby to know when it’s time to be awake and when it’s time to rest.
This will require restraint on the parents’ behalf. You’re going to have to fight your initial instincts to rock them, cuddle them, or be within earshot.
If you’re having difficulty, here are a few good tips that you can try to incorporate:
Paying attention to the visual cues your baby is giving you goes a long way: are they rubbing their eyes, yawning, or sucking their thumb?
These are all ways in which your baby is communicating their need for sleep.
Another thing you’ll want to ensure is to always put the baby down in its crib. Establishing a permanent place for bedtime goes a long way as far as giving your child the security it needs.
Now, we want to hear what you think.
Do you let your child self-soothe or do you prefer another parenting method?
Either way, make sure to comment down below. We would certainly love to hear from you!
