Many babies go to bed crying, and some parents, relying on the “cry it out” plan, let it happen. Some even consider it a method of sleep training. It's not necessarily harmful, but it's not the best course of action for all babies according to Alanna McGinn, an Ontario, Canada-based certified sleep consultant.
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The Age Matters
Crying is Inevitable
Regardless of the sleep method you choose for your child, crying is inevitable with any change in routine, says McGinn. Allowing your child to cry for a limited time teaches him how to self-soothe and does not translate to psychological damage, according to a 2012 study in the Journal of Pediatrics. If a child continues to cry, though, using sleep strategies such as camping out by his crib without picking him up may help him gradually transition to sleep on his own without prolonged crying.
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Cry it Out Controversy
Psychologist Jodi Mindell wrote in 2004 that babies who cry themselves to sleep learn self-soothing techniques. The sleep training method does not cause any type of long-term trauma, asserts Mindell in the American Psychological Association's journal. However, she understands not all parents are on board with listening to their little one cry it out. Parents can practice alternative methods, such as rocking a child to sleep, and controlled comforting where parents gradually reduce the time they spend consoling a child to sleep.
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