{"id":"8380073224271ebcd47bb07580ffdf54","slug":"is-it-okay-to-let-my-baby-cry-it-out","question":"Is it okay to let my baby cry it out?","answer":"The research here is pretty clear: your instinct to comfort your crying baby is actually backed by science. Babies whose parents respond sensitively to their cries—even when it means breaking rigid \"rules\"—develop more secure attachments by 12 months. Those parents tend to be more attuned overall, and that responsiveness matters.\n\nThat said, there's a real difference between responding to your baby and being constantly available. If you're exhausted or need a break, that's legitimate—and taking care of yourself actually helps your baby. The goal isn't to respond to every sound, but to be present and gentle when they're genuinely upset.\n\nIf your 20-month-old is crying inconsolably for long stretches, that might point to colic (which affects about 1 in 5 infants and usually resolves by 3–4 months, though at their age it would be less likely). More importantly, if constant crying is wearing you down, talk to your pediatrician—not just about your toddler, but about getting real support for yourself too. Parental stress actually makes the cycle harder, so getting help matters for both of you.","sources":"[{\"title\":\"A method to soothe and promote sleep in crying infants utilizing the transport response.\",\"journal\":\"Current biology : CB\",\"year\":\"2022\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36103877/\",\"score\":0.75},{\"title\":\"The challenges of stillness: a longitudinal study about the associations between mothers' violations of the still-face, infant patterns of regulatory behavior, mother-infant interactive behavior, and \",\"journal\":\"BMC psychology\",\"year\":\"2025\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40083002/\",\"score\":0.74},{\"title\":\"Infant colic: mechanisms and management.\",\"journal\":\"Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology\",\"year\":\"2018\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29760502/\",\"score\":0.74},{\"title\":\"The consequences of having an excessively crying infant in the family: an integrative literature review.\",\"journal\":\"Scandinavian journal of caring sciences\",\"year\":\"2019\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31058351/\",\"score\":0.73},{\"title\":\"Recent advances in understanding and managing infantile colic.\",\"journal\":\"F1000Research\",\"year\":\"2018\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30271572/\",\"score\":0.73}]","view_count":5,"created_at":"2026-06-25T21:01:10.344Z"}