In the first months after a newborn arrives, new parents often feel a mix of joy, anxiety, and exhaustion. While some parenting instincts come naturally, it’s common to encounter advice that can make things even more complicated. Recently, one new mother took to Reddit seeking support after an ongoing disagreement with her husband, who claimed that she was spoiling their two-month-old son. Here’s her story.
A New Mother Seeks Advice on Reddit Amidst a Dispute with Her Husband
Our 2-month-old son has been quite colicky. He cries a lot, but I understand it’s because he’s in discomfort and his tiny belly is aching. Whenever he cries, my first instinct is to comfort him. I usually pick him up and hold him in an upright position, which seems to soothe him the most.
Honestly, I can’t stand to see him in tears. In the evenings, I find peace in holding him while sitting in our rocking chair, enjoying those precious baby cuddles. However, my husband believes that this constant holding is the reason behind our baby’s frequent crying.
My husband argues that he needs to ‘cry it out’ to tire himself out enough to sleep. His mother supports this by saying, ‘You never cried much, but when you did, I just let you cry it out.’ My husband insists, ‘crying won’t harm him,’ but I don’t agree. I struggle to find the right words to explain why I feel this way.
I try to tell him that this is an outdated approach. You can’t hold a baby too much, and babies aren’t manipulative—they can’t be spoiled. Yet, he just doesn’t seem to understand. How can I help my husband realize that his parents’ ‘cry it out’ advice is not suitable for our baby? How do I explain that you can’t spoil a baby?
