Cry it out!?!

I am extremely opinionated on some things and every once in a while I need to throw my opinions out there, so here goes.

***DISCLAIMER: This is not a debate. This is how I feel and if you disagree, you can write your own blog about how you feel. If you dont like that, get over it.***

Recently a question came up about sleeping situations for babies. I have thought about this a lot and here is what I believe. For nine months I am everything to my baby as they are growing and developing. Every sound is accompanied by the sound of my heartbeat, comforting them and teaching them that I am with them. There are some children that as soon as they come into this world are sent to a nursery.

Imagine for a minute that you have had one constant for nine months and then suddenly everything has changed. Your temperature isn't controlled anymore, lights are brighter, sounds are more distinct and that constant heartbeat that you have 1come to know means safety with your mom is gone. Sounds cruel doesn't it? Thats because it is cruel. There is a reason that kangaroo care works with premature babies. They know that Mom is there because of her heartbeat.

Now fast forward six months. You have grown and developed. Mom is still your world. You get your nourishment from her, she keeps you clean, gives you comfort and holds you while you fall sleep. As you sleep you feel so safe. The world is huge and Mom is there to help you explore it. She keeps you out of danger and if you ever get scared or hurt, you can snuggle close and hear her heart beating. It is a constant that you know will be there. Then one day, Mom decides that she needs more sleep. You wake up too many times in the night and she needs to teach you that you should be sleeping through the night. Why does she think this? Because the 'doctors' say that you can.
Mom takes their advice but you don't understand. Suddenly you go from falling asleep with her near and her heart beating that reminder, that comfort, to being alone in a room exhausted. Left to cry it out. Eventually you fall asleep. But there is no conforting heart beating to sooth you, no warmth of your Mom's arms to snuggle into. You're alone.
You learn quickly that instead of being able to count on Mom for everything, suddenly she isn't there. You don't know why except that every night you have to fall asleep on your own. That trust that is built between Mother and child is still there, but somewhere in the back of your subconsious, you know that she left you, that at night, you need to sleep on your own. No wonder our society is so detatched.

Now I am not an advocate of attatchment parenting, but some things just make sense. Mothers are encouraged to cut the ties earlier and earlier. It's easier as a Mom to be detatched from our children. To follow the societal norms and just let baby cry it out.
I choose to snuggle my children and maybe I am a little sleep deprived some days(A LOT on others ;) and maybe, I don't get as much done during the day, but maybe, just maybe I have a baby who is secure in her mothers love. A three year old who knows that when she wakes up in the night, Mommy and Daddy's door is open and she can snuggle for a few. She also knows that she might get put back in her bed, yet if she is returned to her bed she is secure in her parents love.

Having my children growing up happy, healthy and knowing that I will always be there for them is worth a few sleepless nights.