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.