To: Everyone with children
Commit to comfort your child and never let them "Cry It Out"
By signing this petition you commit to comforting and holding your child until they fall asleep. You acknowledge that learning about and responding to the needs of a child is what parenting is all about, even if it is exhausting and difficult and tries your patience. You agree to show up emotionally for your children, especially when it is most difficult to do so. You also agree to do things that nurture yourself so that you have energy to show love to your children.
Why is this important?
If you were allowed to cry it out, or currently practice this approach with babies or toddlers, this petition may touch a nerve. Children learn to sooth themselves by being soothed by a parent or care giver. That is how children learn. They do not learn to soothe themselves by crying alone with no holding or comforting. Effects of not soothing a child are that brain cells die (brain damage!), self regulation is actually undermined/child goes into despair at being abandoned, the stress response may be established for life and cause long term health problems and ADHD, trust is lost with a parent, and the sensitivity of the caregiver may be harmed (Narvaez, 2011).
For more information on the history of Cry It Out, its effects, and solutions, go to http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201112/dangers-crying-it-out?
On page two there are a lot of suggestions for further reading.
For more information on the history of Cry It Out, its effects, and solutions, go to http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201112/dangers-crying-it-out?
On page two there are a lot of suggestions for further reading.