I'm sure it's my hormones but I always feel really sad when I read about a tiny baby being left to cry...

[LadyTophamHatt]

they just want to be cuddled.
I know its draining having a baby scream in your ear all day but thats all they want.

IMO and IME anyway.

It breaks my heart to leave DS4 crying for longer than a minute.

Maybe I'm a soft touch.

I'm in central Asia, that's why I'm up early cos we're 5 hours ahead.

I know it's distressing when a baby cries, it's suppose to be, but I really don't think it's harmful for them to cry a bit. I'm not talking about hours, but minutes.. My DS didn't cry that much, just had a grizzly time in early evening, and from 3 months or so practically never cried unless something upset him. It's the only way they have to communicate, and it makes you feel terrified, worried etc, but I really don't think it's cruel to leave a baby to cry for a few minutes if you need to do something, and if you're in a shop or something often they need talking to or distraction more than picking up. As I said, I think it's often the mother who wants to hold the baby, might not always be what the baby wants. I'm not condoning neglect or whatever, but it's completely different...

I think the mother I mentioned is finding it quite a challenge. Her baby is a baby that does just want to suck and doesn't sleep much. I am not critising because I might have done the same in her situation, and she really is going to be a wonderful mum (she is great with my three). I just wish that we know when we have just had our first, the same things we know after 3 babies - it would make the whole thing much easier!