'Crying it out' may damage baby's brain



Research suggests that allowing a baby to "cry it out" can cause brain damage. Some experts warn that allowing a baby to "cry it out" causes extreme distress to the baby. And such extreme distress in a newborn has been found to block the full development of certain areas of the brain and causes the brain to produce extra amounts of cortisol, which can be harmful.

According to a University of Pittsburgh study by Dr. M. DeBellis and seven colleagues, published in Biological Psychiatry in 2004, children who suffer early trauma generally develop smaller brains.


The Science of Parenting by Dr. Margot Sunderland (Dorling Kindersley, 2006) points out some of the brain damaging effects that can occur if parents fail to properly nurture a baby -- and that means not allowing them to "cry it out." Dr. Sunderland, the director of education and training at the Centre for Child Mental Health in London, draws upon work in neuroscience to come to her conclusions and recommendations about parenting practice.

In the first parenting book to link parent behaviour with infant brain development, Dr. Sunderland describes how the infant brain is still being "sculpted" after birth. Parents have a major role in this brain "sculpting" process.


Allowing a baby to "cry it out" when they are upset will probably be regarded as child abuse by future generations.


We have addressed snoring many times in many ways. Points we have not made so far about snoring include:



- An estimated 45% of people snore from time to time and 25% are habitual snorers;


What we have not answered is the question of what could be the evolutionary advantage in making a sound while snoring? Making noises (often very loud ones) while sleeping would seem only to advertise the fact that one is sleeping -- and thus being more vulnerable to harm from other humans and predation for other animals. Making a sound while snoring would seem to provide no advantage and at least one definite disadvantage for survival.

- Stephen Juan, PhD, is an anthropologist at the University of Sydney. E-mail your questions to


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