“…If a day or two of letting a child cry to sleep would solve all problems, there is no way that the previously quoted percentages would be so high (they are in the book on the other page). In addition, if those who tried it found immediate, simple success, it would be impossible for word not to spread quickly around the world. The truth is that even though cry-it-out advocates try to tell you that it’s a quick fix, it often takes weeks or even months of very intense crying (and very little sleeping) for a child to finally succumb and start sleeping better, only to relapse after teething, illness, vacations, schedule changes, and growth spurts. So to imply that “a few nights of crying” would solve everything is naive and unrealistic….’

This is from one of my new books…Elizabeth Pantley. I’ve been getting new books in the subject of parenting for over a year now. Dave and I were just discussing how far we have come and how educated we are now to what we were before.

We don’t need this book as Ara is sleeping just fine but I’ve become a bit of a “sleep helper” and in my search for help/ideas it seems that information has become very slim as children become older…so the book the “No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers” is just great.

Babies sleep needs versus Cry it out or Controlled Crying 

I found this article when I was looking for something on stress 

“…Because western culture values independence and self-reliance, we often look to foster these traits in our children. In our society, a baby who sleeps through the night is regarded as achieving the ideal. However, what seems best for the adults in the family may not be best for baby. Night waking in babies serves many healthy and protective functions. It allows frequent feeding and the intake of needed nutrition for growth; it creates the opportunity for emotional reconnection and stimulation of optimal brain development; and it is potentially protective against SIDS, allowing babies to avoid long periods of time in deep sleep that can leave them vulnerable….”

“…Babies who are left to cry even for short periods are left vulnerable to the effects of stress. Stress is the emotional and physical impact our bodies experience as we adjust to challenge. The ability to handle stress is formed via our early experiences. Because a baby’s brain is in an early state of development, it is quite vulnerable to stressful events. An infant brain possesses well-established fear circuitry but very immature circuitry for pleasure. What this means is that a baby is easily overwhelmed by distress and needs vigilant assistance to maintain emotional equilibrium and to feel good. Subjection to repeated, frequent, ongoing or intense stressors leaves a baby prone to the negative effects of future stress as well as more unable to recover from the stress of the moment. Crying is often the only way babies have to communicate that they are stressed. Leaving them in this state only increases their stress levels and teaches them they cannot rely on their caregivers to assist them…”