How to Let a Baby Cry It Out

When you let your baby cry it out, it means letting your baby cry him or herself to sleep at night. Allowing a baby to cry to sleep does not mean you are a bad parent or a neglectful parent. The most important factor to consider when you want to let your baby cry it out is to pay close attention to the type of cry your baby has and how old your baby is.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Baby monitor or video baby monitor
• Patience and consistency

1. Have your baby be fed, clean and comfortable. If you have already fed your baby, changed her diaper and cuddled with her and there is nothing else to try, then she is likely just tired and needs rest.
2. Check that the crib or sleeping area is safe. Clear the crib of any blankets or toys that your child may get tangled up in if he rolls around while crying. Remove anything that could potentially be a hazard to your baby, including the crib bumpers.
3. Monitor your baby during the crying. You need to ensure that she is safe when left in the crib. Staying in the room with your child is not recommended because she may be able to sense that you are there and continue crying more than absolutely necessary.
4. Listen to the type of crying. If your baby is only crying louder and harder and after 10 minutes no progress has been made, consider re-checking your baby's needs before letting him cry longer. If there seems to be less urgency and less frequency between cries then your baby is on his way to getting some much needed rest.
5. Be consistent every time you put your baby down. You will be setting yourself up for failure and putting your child through unnecessary trauma if you give in too early and pick him up without really letting him cry. Follow your instincts; if you know something is wrong and you need to get to your baby immediately, by all means go check on your baby.
6. Prepare yourself for side effects of prolonged crying. It is not abnormal for a baby to cry so hard that she induces vomiting. This can be heartbreaking to witness, but it is not abnormal due to the sensitive trigger on a baby's gag reflex. Just clean your baby's sleep area and put her back to bed.

Tips & Warnings

• Babies younger than six months of age have constant needs and it may not be appropriate to let them cry it out.
• Your baby needs sleep even more than you do, so don't lose heart by letting him cry to sleep.
• Video baby monitors will allow you to keep an eye on your baby without being in the room.
• The intensity of the cry is also important; sometimes a baby will be hysterically upset after a matter of seconds; another time you know just leaving him to cry for 1 minute will let him get back to sleep.
• Always consult your pediatrician before trying the cry it out sleep method.
• You can't keep up elaborate sleeping routines forever, so don't get stuck in any habits you can't or don't intend to continue forever.
• Never neglect or ignore your baby just because you have decided to try the cry it out method. Prolonged crying can cause elevated blood pressure or other harmful effects.