How strong are you when your baby cries?

I can't stand the sound of a baby crying . This was one of the things my husband and I argued on and still do . When one of my children is crying I have to go to them right away and make sure they are ok . My husband feels this spoils them but I feel that a baby crying is because of a need they want ,even if it is just to be held . They have no other way to tell us what they want except to cry , and even as adults we still have the need to be comforted or just held the same as babies . The only difference is when we want something we can ask for it and they can't . I am and figure I will always be a softie when it comes to a baby crying .

I can leave my kids to cry but you are right, as soon as my 2 year old says 'I need you mummy, I want you' I just pick her up. She knows it too and plays on it, but I can't help it.

I have to work hard to let my baby cry, even when I know nothing's wrong. Especially when I put him down for bed and I know if I just leave him for a few minutes he'll go to sleep. I'll say "I'll wait at least 5 minutes." and then I'll stare at the clock. Sometimes I don't make it the whole five minutes, but when I do, he's usually asleep by then. =p

I am pretty strong if I go to the basement so I can't really hear them or I shut the door. If I hear them screaming it drives me bonkers. I try not to give in because they are very smart and then know how to handle you. My pediatrician told me my son was playing me when he was 4 months old. Low and behold she was right. Smart cookie!

Well!If my kid cries unnecessarily for some lame reason I just ignore her but if the reason is genuine I too cry with her.

I cannot let my baby cry. Hearing her cry makes me want to fix whatever is wrong. As soon as she starts to cry I have to go to her and soothe her. If I can't stop her from crying, it makes me want to cry. I'm as soft as a marshmellow when it comes to her. When she gets older I know I will need to toughen up a bit but I honestly believe that letting young children "cry it out" is not the best parenting strategy. Little babies (and by that I mean babies under the age of 6 months) cannot communicate their feelings in any other way. People who say that tiny little babies are manipulating them don't know what they're talking about. Babies cry to get your attention. That is not manipulation, that is communication. They do not understand the concept of cause and effect until around 9 months of age. If your child needs you, than go to them! If there is absolutely nothing wrong, than just hold them, they probably just need to know that you're there.

I know that when an infant cries, the usual reasons are either hunger or discomfort. Older babies later learn that crying attracts attention, so they do it just for that reason if they want to be picked up. You'll know because the crying stops right away. They're smart and they learn fast.

My first child is now 5 months old, and I have to admit that I am not very strong when he cries. I hope that will be better soon, because I can see that he already now knows how to use his cry to get what he want lol.

As much as possible I try not to let my children's cries affect me, specially if they are crying coz they didn't get what they want. But of course, I am only a mom and I don't always win, there are times when they cry that I hug them and stuff and try to calm them and stop them from crying, sometimes even give in to them just to make them stop crying, but that don't happen often. Cause my resolve is I wouldn't be loving my children if I spoil them.

when he was an infant I always tried to take care that he won't cry and his little cry was making me worried. But as he is growing up I am stronger and I know from his voice when it is a fake cry and when real.

I've never let my son cry it out, I don't think babies can be manipulative at all. As a toddler, yes he throws tantrums-but that's normal. But when he cries because he's hungry, tired, wet, etc I try to comfort him, change him, and feed him. He's can't exactly tell me what he needs, so I can tell by his cry what it is. I don't think I'm weak, I'm just following my mommy instincts.

I can't bear to hear my kids crying - I'm not "strong" in the 'able to ignore it' sense if that is what you mean. They know it, and I'm actually quite pleased about that :)