"Put your baby in bed and let him or her cry for at least 10  minutes
before checking again. Babies must learn to comfort and quiet
themselves"

I think that Johanna has responded very well regarding Dr. Robertson's
advice to allow a baby to cry.  I also take exception to Dr. Robertson's
advice and believe that a self-soothing infant is an oxymoron.  Babies
may well learn to stop crying following this advice, but what else have
they learned.  That their parents are unreliable?  Uncaring?  Won't be
there when they need them?  Hardly a good start in life!

To say that it is possible to check all of an infants needs: wet,
hungry, etc. and then let them cry if "nothing is wrong" is to say that
babies don't have emotional needs; that all they need is physical care.
We know this isn't true!!  A baby can't tell us about her fears, her
loneliness, boredom or distress.  (Sometimes I can't even figure out why
I'm crying and I'm all grown up)  She just needs to be with the one she
loves!

That being said, if the baby has colic and the parent has reached the
breaking point, putting the baby down is far better than doing physical
damage.

Leslie White
Deep River  Ontario  where spring is returning today

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