by A. Kyles

Created on: April 15, 2008

Should parents allow their babies to cry themselves to sleep? Absolutely not. I am a mother of three and never have my children, as long as I'm around and as far as I know, cried themselves to sleep.

I honestly believe that allowing a baby, or any child, to cry themselves to sleep is wrong. I believe it makes the child feel unloved, unwanted and afraid. As parents, we are to do the best to raise our children in a loving and caring environment. We are responsible for making them feel and keeping them safe.

How would you like it if, for any reason, you were crying and wanting attention and the person who was to love you the most in life walks off and leaves you alone to deal with it? It's not a fun or wonderful feeling. I have had that happen and you feel lonely, abandoned and scared. It leaves you feeling as if no one cares and that you aren't important. If it's done often enough, you are left with low self-esteem and a feeling of worthlessness.

When a child, especially a baby, cries, normally you see them reaching for you. How can anyone turn and walk away from a child who wants to be held and nurtured? I understand that you can't hold your child every minute of every day but, you can take a few minutes or longer everyday to do so. Once you turn your back on little arms reaching out to you, you've destroyed the trust that you've built up. If a child or baby can't depend on you when they are upset, such as not wanting to go to sleep, than when can they?

Even as adults, we tend to not always be "sleepy" when we lay down to go sleep. We usually aren't even tired at the same time every night. Why should we expect children or babies to be that way. By crying, that could be exactly what they are telling us. They could be telling us that they want to stay up longer or just want to wind down first. This is an issue that I don't believe is given much thought too.

When it comes to taking care of our children, it's our responsibility to keep them safe and protected. This method includes being there for them when they want or need us. The main time that's special for all children and parents is bedtime. Why leave your child to cry themselves to sleep when you can hold them, sing to them or take the time to read a book to them. By paying attention to them, you'll find that they'll go to sleep quicker and with much less fuss.

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