I am just getting around to reading the last several days of Lactnet.
 Thought I would share my story about "not" sleeping through the night.  My
son is 9 years old now.  He was a poor sleeper at night from 6 months through
30 months.  Amazingly, as soon as his 2 year molars came though, he magically
began to sleep through the night. (his gums tended to turn black before the
teeth erupted, so I would guess he also was in pain). I tried to let him "cry
it out" one night at bedtime and nearly lost my mind.  I could not stand it
and he was getting more and more worked up, so I decided to do what was
comfortable for both of us.  In retrospect, I am glad that I did.

8 years later I discovered that he had cranial sacral problems that led to
him not being able to breathe properly when placed on his tummy (the advice
at that time).  It also caused chronic spitting up, especially when he was on
his stomach.  This reflux may have led to him being more agitated the longer
he was left alone.  (It was a real trip when he started crawling around the
house - I would find little "deposits" where he had been and spit up part of
 his latest meal).  Later, as he grew older, he would drool whenever he got
excited and vomited easily.  Now that the cranial work has been done, this
has stopped.  I am sorry that I did not know about it earlier.

My understanding from Gene Cranston Anderson is that the increase in blood
pressure that is brought on by hard crying in babies can force blood back
though the "hole in the heart" thus keeping it patent and lead to later heart
murmurs. This is a reason TO comfort a baby.

One of the books that really inspired me in my early parenting was "how to
talk so kids will listen" by Faber.  It opened my eyes that adults tend to
judge children by however the adult feels (such as "you can't be cold, its
hot in here") and this teaching children to distrust their own needs and
instincts can be dangerous (as in teen years when we all want children to
think for themselves, not listen to the drug dealers who say "a little won't
make you an addict.....")

Clambering down from the soapbox, now.
Martha Brower, queen of opinions, tonight.