what are the negatives of Controlled Crying (other than the obvious!)

[BibBabBob]

We're getting desperate- DS is 6 months old and currently waking every 1-2 hours for a little suckle to help him get back to sleep. He's now on 3 meals a days so can't be hunger. No other health issues as far as I'm aware. He just seems to need me to help him fall back to sleep. I really don't want to do it but we're considering CC. May sound like a daft question but other than being horrible for all 3 of us what are the negatives? We obviously won't let him come to any physical harm but will he be mentally scared forever? Does anyone know of any research that suggests is bad for child?

For me there comes a point when I will instinctively pick up my baby. Perhaps it take longer to get them to sleep through the night. I don't know. I'm hoping to build in a strong foundation sense of security this way and it feels right.

In the end there are probably as many ways of doing this as there are mothers and babies.

I agree strongly with your last sentence spider.

But I have to say - DS2 was an excellent sleep almost from birth (bottlefed, own cot) picked up when he needed it. DS1 dreadful sleeper from birth to 6 months (don't think he actually knew what sleep was until then LOL) breastfed and in our bed (tried DS2 in our bed but he was a little wriggler and wouldn't settle - so he was quickly booted out the bed to his moses basket ), he was also picked up when he needed it.

I'm a firm believe in babies not always crying because they need something - how many posts do we see on here "my baby has been crying for x amount of time, I've cuddled, fed, pushed in pushchair, given calpol, left alone, sung to, read to etc etc - but they still won't settle?).

I don't believe it does any long lasting 'damage' (what happened to the generation who used to be left in prams at the end of the garden ) and there are much more important factors which affect how our children grow up that whether you use CC, Pick-up put down, co-sleep, let them sleep on their own etc etc.

So - in short - we all do what's right for our kids

Kasdie, my cranio sacral osteopath was about £30, with all subsequent visits less. You only need 2-3 visits, sometimes only 1.