Is It Ok To Let My Baby Cry?

One of the important questions asked by new parents is whether or not it is okay to let a baby cry. This question is often asked throughout the growth stages of an infant’s life.

Of course, the obvious answer is that it depends on the age of the baby. Newborns are more prone to cry natural. However, most of the time babies are crying for a reason.

However, in some cases it is perfectly okay to let a baby cry. The next section will explain further.

Further Explanation

Oftentimes they say babies cry for attention if they have already been fed or changed. However, it is reported that newborns especially are not able to cry for the sake of just getting attention.

Therefore, there usually is a reason that a newborn baby is crying. For instance, maybe the infant needs a diaper change or the baby needs to be fed. A baby may also cry when tired, even though he or she is fighting to stay awake.

However, if the baby has just been fed or changed and you have made sure he or she is not in pain then crying for a few minutes is fine. Some ways of teaching say that a baby crying for at least a few minutes is one that needs to “let it out” whatever that may mean.

One explanation is that a baby may cry because the birthing experience can be a bit traumatic for the baby, just as is for the mother. Therefore, some frustrations or stress related to this may be released by a baby in the form of crying.

Reasons for Crying

It may be okay to let a baby cry for a few minutes. However, you should also know that there are reasons besides just needing to be changed or fed that a baby may cry.

Some babies may be crying for health reasons. For instance, if a baby has colic he or she may cry, or perhaps they have a cold or an ear infection. These small illnesses need to be attended to right away before the problem worsens, and for a baby a situation like this can be a big deal.

However, another reason that babies cry is because they simply have a reflux action that causes stress. In this case, all you need to do is place the baby on his/her back again to help release any wind that may be trapped inside, and then the baby can fall back asleep.

Additional Tips

If a bay has colic oftentimes changing the bottle frequently or using specially designed bottles may help. Holding the baby snugly also may help a baby get back to sleep when the little one is having insomnia for whatever reason.

You should know that all babies are different, though. Some of them can actually make it just about through the entire night sleeping, while others may not be able to sleep for more than a few hours at a time.

As far as how long to let a baby cry before you pick him or her up, that is basically trial and error. As a baby or toddler ages the need to pick up the little one should be less and less, and it is best not to spoil the child too much.

Otherwise, the infant, baby, or toddler may expect to be picked up whenever he or she cries. This is not good because it can make for a very clingy teen or adult eventually.

If you are unsure as to how long you should let your baby cry before finding out if something is wrong, instinct can help. Mothers in particular often have this. They often can just “sense” if something is wrong when it comes to caring for a baby.

It also should be noted that some parents may be afraid to let their baby cry for a very important reason. They may have suffered from S.I.D.S (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) at one time, and this is perfectly understandable.

However, as a general rule of thumb the less you can get away with holding your baby the less chance that it will be clinging to you as a toddler, child, or even teenager. The child will also be less spoiled as it ages, and it will be more independent.