Being a parent, you will at some stage wonder how long to let baby cry at night. A natural instinct is to go and cuddle your baby. We don’t want to see our baby upset or in any distress, but you need to decide what is best for both you and baby.

You need to experience a lack of sleep to realise exactly what effect it will have on your body and your entire life. Sleep is an essential bodily function. We cannot cope without it and neither can your baby. If your baby is keeping you awake at night, you need to get your baby into a sleeping routine. Easier said than done, I know, but there are ways to go about it. You can let your baby cry it out. This means to let your baby cry until she falls asleep. This is not easy to do because your natural reaction will be to console your baby, but you do need to be strong.

Put your baby to bed like you would normally do, giving her cuddles and kisses. Have the lights turned down and tuck her in. Leave the room. If she starts crying, leave her. It will be hard and you and your partner will have to support each other here. You want her to realise that this is sleep time and not play time. By not going back in to the room, she will realise that you are not going to give her attention now. The first night will more than likely be the hardest and longest night. This process will have to be repeated for several nights until she gets into the routine. It might seem harsh, but when it’s all over, you will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Every baby is different, and your baby might settle in to the routine even after one night.

This method may seem cruel, but sleep is essential for both you and baby, so you need to find a solution. Crying will not harm your baby. Babies have a rapid gag reflex, so your baby might even vomit from so much crying. Change her outfit and bed clothes if need be and tuck her back in. There is no reason to be alarmed.  If you do have any concerns, speak to your caregiver.

You should remain in close proximity to your baby while going through this process to keep an eye on her. Try not to console her though as this will only undo the work that has already been done. You want to let her know that night time is for sleeping.

This is a temporary situation that will result in a permanent solution, so be strong!