Academics at the University of Warwick found a baby’s behaviour, development, or attachment at 18 months is not adversely affected by being left to ‘cry it out’ a few times or often in infancy.
In fact, the researchers suggested, letting a baby cry for a while to see whether it can calm itself may help the development of self-regulation and a first sense of self.
The research also found that babies left to cry cried less and for a shorter time at 18 months of age.
Meanwhile. in direct observations of mother-baby interaction, mothers who let babies ‘cry it out’ a few times or often were not found to be any less sensitive in their parenting.
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