When is it okay to let a baby cry?

[Sister]

My youngest daughter is two months old. She had a crying jag this afternoon and I didn't know what to do for her. I finally set her down and let her cry for a little bit. We were both really upset. I went back and got her when I felt like I could comfort her and she was ready to be comforted, and she did calm down and eventually go to sleep. But she's really too little to "cry it out", right?

[Tigriz]

Yes and no. In my experience with my son, the only time he gets to really crying he's either hungry or over tired. When he's over tired, he doesn't want anything. He doesn't want to be held, he doesn't want to lay down, he doesn't want to eat, nothing. It used to really upset me in the beginning, but now I've started to learn his "I'm getting tired" signals, so I'm able to rock him or get him down for his nap in time. What you did was exactly what I had to do numerous times. What I've always heard is that you should never let a baby cry if they need something. This makes them feel as if they're not important enough to deserve attention and/or what they are crying for (food, clean diaper, love, etc). But there will still be times that your daughter will cry just to cry. The best thing is to do whatever you can, offer her whatever you think she might need, and if that doesn't work, handle it exactly how you did.

[Sister]

Thanks, your reply makes me feel a lot better. I was so upset that I had to let her cry a bit. I know it won't scar her for life but I also know that babies need to feel that their needs are being met.