
I know this is a controversial topic, but I’m not writing about it to be controversial, or to get clicks. I’m writing about this topic because a couple of weeks ago it was something I discussed with a friend. We both averted each other’s eyes, and squirmed before ascertaining that each of us had done some form of controlled crying. Suddenly it was OK to talk to about it. And I realised that many of us don’t have the support of other mothers on this matter, so I thought I’d throw my hat in the ring, and make the shocking admission: I let my daughter cry it out. *GASP* I know, what a monster!
Before you grab your pitchfork and make your way over I need to tell you one thing. It worked. Does my daughter now think nobody will come to her if she cries? No. Is she emotionally despondent? No. Does she settle better now? Absolutely!

Now, I’m not saying everyone should cry it out to solve sleep dramas. I’m saying that everyone should do what feels right for them. For us, crying it out was the solution to a problem that was escalating. We had no problem with missy actually sleeping. The issue was that little miss needed to be rocked in order to get to sleep. And you know what it’s like, once you find that sleep trigger you go with it. Then suddenly a little rock is turning into a half-hour routine that involves certain movements, postures and a back ache that won’t quit. Suddenly getting baby to sleep lasts almost as long as the naps, that now only go for one sleep cycle before another rock is required. We had created a rod for our crippled backs, and there was no getting away from it. So … we tried controlled crying.