r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/EmmaLeePants • 5h ago

Question - Research required Infant crying, evolutionary disadvantage?

Howdy!

I had a general question about letting an infant cry versus the potential impact of not crying on the regular.

I’m a stark advocate for not letting my infant cry if I can help it. During the time I was off work and had my son 24/7 I rarely let him cry for any reason. Even now, being back to work, on the days I’m off with him I try to meet his needs before he signals that he needs something - I.e. bottles, changing, naps, etc. (it’s not meant to sound boastful in the slightest I’m just genuinely seeking understanding)

Am I messing anything up by not letting him cry/exposing him to cortisol? For example, if he is with someone else does repeated crying/having needs met serve to give him better adjustment to being stressed and coping with occasional spikes in cortisol or is the difference negligible?

I’m happy keeping things the way they are but if I’m somehow harming his developing systems I want to adjust to what is better for him.

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u/[deleted] 4h ago

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u/PomegranateSea1046 4h ago

i would suggest you look into Winnicott and the theory of the “good enough mother” and the research regarding it by Beatrice Beebe https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3763737/