Letting babies bawl can backfire
From Times wire reports
Comforting babies is better than letting them cry and ultimately results in fewer tears, at least during the first few weeks of life.
British researchers who compared the benefits of soothing bawling babies or letting them settle themselves found that holding and comforting them minimized the crying.
“The hands-off approach appeared to backfire: Babies fussed and cried 50% more at two and five weeks,” New Scientist magazine said Wednesday.
“And they were still crying more after 12 weeks,” it added.
The study was conducted by Ian St James-Roberts, of the University of London’s Institute of Education.
