I'm responding to Barb's post re a mom who questioned Ezzo and whether baby
should be left to cry.  I have used the following exerpt from the Brown
University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, May, 1998 when explaining
physiologically why letting babies cry is unhealthy.  I think it is often
more powerful for some skeptics who think responding to baby's needs is "just
a parenting style."

I quote directly and finally have contacted the newsletter to request the
original research, so hopefully will have that soon...

" ....stressed babies.

Harvard researchers report that there may be a physical basis for personality
disorders in childhood based on the amount of stress infants experience.
Babies who sleep alone or are not picked up and comforted may become
susceptible late in life to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
personality problems.  The researchers also report higher levels of cortisol
in babies who cry.  Infants who are not picked up and comforted cry more, so
they have higher levels of cortisol, which may cause neurological changes
that later lead to PTSD and other disorders."

Science telling us what we already know instinctually, but interesting,
nonetheless.

Hope this helps, Barb.

Barbara Latterner, BSN, RN, IBCLC
Brewster, NY

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