Sue, I really liked your comment about how some moms intuitively sense that their babies will be OK after a bit of fussing, or maybe even crying -- that they do this as part of their settle down routine; but if the mom is really uncomfortable with the crying, then it is probably a sign that something is wrong, and the baby shouldn't be left to cry. You really hit it right on when you mentioned that we need to help mothers understand that it is OK to follow their hearts, despite all the experts, and I list them all, including the pediatrician, me, their mothers, sisters, (esp. the ones that never had kids), etc. Tina Smillie once said that if we tell a mother her maternal instinct on something is wrong (i.e. no, you shouldn't pick up the baby every time he cries), then we have effectively negated her ability to ever trust her instinct again. New moms are vulnerable, and sensitive, and need so much mothering. Jan B (still smarting over some things I was told over 21 years ago. And that I listened to. Poor Jill).