The Case Against CIO

What is CIO?
An explanation of "Cry It Out."

Early Brain Development:  What Parents and Caregivers Need to Know!
This article covers brain development and the different effects of CIO and other actions.

Can leaving a baby to "Cry It Out" cause brain damage?
Research shows CIO can cause brain damage in a newborn.  CIO will be considered abuse by future generations.

Cry It Out:  The Potential Dangers of Leaving Your Baby to Cry
The potential dangers of letting your child CIO and the benefits of AP.

Crying For Comfort:  Distressed Babies Need to Be Held
A look at the origin of CIO and AP.

Dangers of Babywise/Ezzo Baby Training
A compliation of information by Xakana.

The Emotional Infant Brain
Another article on the development of the infant brain.

Science Says: Excessive Crying Could be Harmful to Babies
Shutdown Syndrome
Dr. Sears speaks in depth about the shutdown syndrome and the loss of trust between child and parent.

Children Need Touching and Attention
A Harvard study on CIO

Babywise - And Why Not to Do It!
The official anti-Ezzo website.  Read stories from people who tried Ezzo's methods, and the heartbreak that followed.

Loving Responses to Baby's Cries
Discusses the natural response to baby's cries vs. cultural conditioning.

Controlled Crying
Australian Association for Infant Mental Health's concerns that the widely practiced technique of ‘controlled crying’is not consistent with what infants need for their optimal emotional and psychological health, and may have unintended negative consequences.

Mistaken Approaches to Night Waking
Talks about the notion of 'self-soothing' and explains why it's incorrect and the emotional conesequences of not responding appropriately to baby's cries.

CIO? No!  The case for not using "cry-it-out" with your children.
Gaye E. McKinnon's article on the case against CIO and an explanation why expecting an infant to be independent is unrealistic.

The Cons of Controlled Crying
Discusses the physical and emotional cons of forcing babies to cry, including different studies and a very good explanation of WHY CIO is cruel.

Not Sleeping Like a Baby
An ABC news article where Dr. Ferber discusses how misunderstood his methods are. It also addresses more risks of CIO, and also the benefits of co-sleeping.