Fire's burning out...just smoldering

[blindsided1]

I appreciate the article ST. I agree with some of it, definitely. But, not all of it. I disagree that you should rush to your child each time it lets out a whimper. But, that is just my opinion. I kinda felt like the writer was a little judgemental and went a tad overboard calling it "punishment and abandonment". But, nonetheless, it was a good article to read. Personally, K sleeps in my room, in her own crib. She is by nature a fussy baby when she is tired. So, when I put her down to sleep, she cries for about 2 minutes. Sometimes longer if she is over stimulated. But, I never let her go past 5 minutes. She goes to bed pretty easily. If she does wake up crying and doesn't immediately go back to sleep, I first try to console her in her own bed. If that doesn't work, I bring her into bed with me for a few minutes, but then put her in her own bed when she has calmed down. I guess, in a way, I am trying to be middle of the road on this topic. I don't believe in letting your child cry for hours on end, not even for 15 minutes. But, I also don't want her to become so dependant on sleeping in my bed. Unfortunately, her father is of the "let her cry until she is blue in the face" method. I have heard from BIL that he leaves her in her crib screaming for an hour until she wears herself out. This I DO believe is VERY damaging. I have tried to talk to him about it, but eveyone knows how well that goes over with MY H. I notice that when she comes home from his house, she is more agressive and she often cries in her sleep. It concerns me. But, I don't know how to combat him on this. So, I just try to be the best mom I can be. And, comfort my daughter and let her know that Mommy is here and she is fine.

Thanks. I am willing to read anything on child rearing. It can only make me a better parent to be more educated.