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Send your questions to Suzanne@InnerworksPublishing.com
Question: Hi Suzanne
I wonder if you have any thoughts about
babies and the practice of controlled crying.
My little granddaughter Sophia is now 4
months old. She has been difficult to settle from the word
go. She is a poor sleeper (except at night) and often
appears to cry for no apparent reason. She seems not
often relaxed.
Her Mum is currently in the habit of patting
her to sleep, (and back to sleep if possible). I am wondering if she
could try to introduce 'controlled crying' as recommended
by some professionals. In the past when Sophia
has been left to cry she has gotten herself into what
sounds and looks like a very 'desperate' state.
I guess my real question is.....
"Is it possible to emotionally 'harm' or
deprive a small baby by leaving them to cry and scream
themselves into a state of physical despair?"
Much love, Faith
Answer: Hi Faith: Every baby is
different, as is the emotional bond between mother and child, so
it is difficult to make generalizations. Babies do have early
predispositions towards certain traits and it may be that this
particular soul needs a little more comfort than most to feel
safe in order to relax and sleep.
It is important to know how your daughter
feels about patting the baby back to sleep, as it may or
may not be a problem to her. What does your daughter’s
intuition say about the situation? I would honor this.
I
consulted with a doctor who is also the mother of a
one-year-old. She recommends two books that may be of value to
your daughter, Healthy
Sleep Habits Healthy Child by Dr. Mark Weissbluth, and The No Cry Sleep Solution by
Elizabeth Pantley, who is the mother of five children. She has a
website www.nocrysleepsolution.com
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