17 of 19

Yes

Write now Article Tools

I think it's absolutely a good idea to let you child cry themselves to sleep. If you're keeping to a tight bedtime schedule then the crying for no reason will end sooner than you think. Which will also lead to knowing that when they are crying that it means something more than they just don't want to go to bed.

I have two kids a seven year old girl and a four year old boy. I did opposite with them when it came to bedtime. My daughter was my first I was always guilted into holding her and rocking her and doing whatever I could think of until she finally passed out. With my second I decided bedtime was eight thirty and it only took about four weeks when he was eight months old to know that bedtime was bedtime.

I have a friend whose youngest child is now eight years old and she never kept to a schedule and was always right there the second they began fussing or crying and now they still don't get the whole bedtime rule. They don't go to bed when she tells them because they still know that there are some ways to get out of going to bed. Whereas at my house there are no negotiations when it comes time to sleep. I'm not saying one way is better than the other but I personally wouldn't be able to keep my cool if my nighttime rituals with my kids involved anything more than floss, brush, toilet, sleep. My friend beats herself up now she's finding herself arguing with her kids before they go to bed which I think makes her feel more guilty than if she had just let them cry as infants. I think having an older child who understands that you're mad at them before they fall asleep feels worse than when you waited out their crying as babies.

It really will make a life long difference if you just let you baby learn when it's nighttime and that there's nothing else to do but sleep. And it's never too late to instill this. My daughter was four when I started the strict bedtime schedule with my son and I had to just do the same thing with her. It was harder because she was bigger and in the habit of making up things to do but she caught on. Now I absolutely love the fact that I know I will have some of my own quiet time because my kids know when their bedtime is with no arguing. It totally paid off to have to wait out those crying moments for the peace I have now. It's actually one of the only things my kids don't try to bargain with me about because there have never been other options.

Learn more about this author, Jayne Payne.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Should parents allow their babies to cry themselves to sleep??
We want to hear your view. Write now!