Baby’s been up two times already tonight, and there she goes again. You consider letting her cry it out, but then you wonder, “Will she be scarred forever?”  A new study from the AAP says no — that letting baby cry every now and then won’t hurt her emotionally or ruin your relationship with her.

After a 2005 Infant Sleep Study suggested the cry-it-out method wouldn’t benefit children, a second study was conducted to see how sleep interventions — or lack thereof — affect children’s emotions and behaviors in the long run. During the five year follow up, known as the Kid Sleep Study, researchers evaluated the emotional health of 255 children from the original study.

When the children turned six, researchers conducted a 60-minute home-based observation of each child’s lifestyle. Afterwards, they distributed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and took post-sleep samples of cortisol (a hormone released as a response to stress) for further evaluation. All of these assessments were used to determine the child’s emotional state and the quality of their child-parent relationships.

In the end, researchers found no difference in emotional health or in parental relationships between children who received sleep intervention and those who were left to cry.

So should you do the “cry-it-out” technique or not? Unfortunately, there’s no right answer that works for every parent. As with most parenting styles, you have to go with what feels right to you.

Did you ever let your baby cry it out? Why or why not?

Plus more from The Bump:

When is Crying It Out Okay?

Cry It Out: Bad for Babies?

Help Baby Sleep Better

If your two-year-old is throwing temper tantrums (and even a few toys) around the house, you can obviously blame it on the fact that he’s two. But, you could also blame it on his sleep habits. Specifically: His snoring.

A recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that persistent snoring in 2- to 3-year-olds led to behavioral problems later in life. (Not to mention it kept moms up at night!) In the study, researchers evaluated the snoring and behavioral patterns of 249 children ages 2 to 3. Based on the snoring habits, reported by parents using the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire, children were assigned to three groups: non-snorers, children who rarely snored; transient snorers, children who snored more than twice a week at either age 2 or age 3; and persistent snorers, children who snored more than twice a week at age 2 and 3.

Parents then completed the preschool form of the Behavior Assessment System for Children. Scores, known as zBMI scores, were generated for hyperactivity, aggression, depression, and inattention. A higher score meant a child showed sever signs of these traits.

At the end of the study, researchers found that persistent snorers had higher zBMI scores than transient and non-snorers. The most significant difference showed with the characteristic of hyperactivity. Almost 40 percent of persistent snorers were at risk for hyperactivity, compared to 10 percent of both transient and non-snorers.

While many would consider snoring a sign of a good rest, lead study author Dean Beebe says it’s actually the opposite.

“It’s not like in the cartoons, where snoring is what signifies sleep,” Beebe said in an interview with MSNBC. She adds that a person snores when they have trouble breathing, which often disrupts the sleep. This challenge can be caused by a cold, allergies or even enlarged adenoid glands (yep, the ones in your neck).

The study also found that children who had been breastfed for an extended period of time and weren’t exposed to cigarette smoke were at a lower risk for persistent snoring. If you’re worried about your tot’s snoring, his pediatrician may be able to help you find ways to reduce it — and that may just help make your household (slightly) more peaceful.

Does your child snore? How do you help them get a good night’s sleep?

Plus, more from The Bump: 

Want Your Toddler to Sleep Like This Kid? Change the Channel 

Help Baby Sleep Better 

Bedtime Routine for Baby

A tired kid is a cranky kid, but getting your toddler or preschooler to go to bed on time can be a challenge (second only to getting them to eat veggies!). The solution? New research suggests it could be changing what your child is watching on TV.

A recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that violent, or age-inappropriate, television shows can have a negative affect on children’s sleep. (And “violent” doesn’t mean your kid is watching Die Hard.) In the study, the Seattle Children’s Research Institute evaluated the sleep and TV-viewing habits of 565 children ages 3 to 6. Half of the children replaced their regular TV shows with safer shows (such as Sesame Street and Dora the Explorer), while the rest viewed their normal programs (which included SpongeBob Square Pants and Scooby-Doo).

Prior to the experiment, parents completed questionnaires regarding their children’s sleep habits. At the time, researchers saw no difference. Parents filled out these survey again at the 6, 12, and 18-month marks, reporting their children’s night wakings, nightmares, trouble waking in the morning and daytime tiredness.

At the end of the study, researches found that those who viewed more educational programming were 64 percent less likely to have trouble falling asleep. Researches saw that the most common problem was difficult with sleep-onset latency, with children taking over 20 minutes to fall asleep. Children also experienced difficult staying asleep and occasional nightmares.

Switching shows may offer more than bedtime benefits. Michelle Garrison, lead author of the study, says the safer shows also act as educational tools. Wondering what “safer shows” means? In the study, that meant a “rating of TV-Y, being rated high on educational and/or prosocial value by CommonSenseMedia.org, and being currently available on network
or cable television… Representative recommended shows included Curious George, Sesame Street and Dora the Explorer.”

“These shows can be beneficial for preschool children to watch, because they emphasize things such as literacy, numbers and social skills,” Garrison told HealthDay. Garrison also adds that just because children can benefit from a show, parent should still “power down” about an hour before bedtime.

Do certain shows affect your child’s sleep? What do you consider “too violent” for your little one?

Plus more from The Bump:

Warning: SpongeBob Could Be Bad for Baby

Worst Baby Sleep Advice Ever

How Much TV Should I Let My Toddler Watch?

Good news, Bumpies!

On Thursday, 5/24 at 2 p.m. EST, we’ll be hosting a Twitterview with experts from Sleep Number and health coach Amy Hendel to give new moms and moms-to-be tips for getting a better night’s sleep.

We’ll be hosting the chat on The Bump’s Twitter page. To get involved in the chat, make sure you follow The Bump at @thebump, Sleep Number expert Pete Bils at @SleepGeekPete and Amy Hendel at @HealthGal1103 and tune in with the hashtag #SleepNumber.

The best part? Everyone who participates in the chat has a chance to win a free Sleep Number bed!

Plus, more from The Bump:

New Mom Sleep Solutions

What’s Causing Your Pregnancy Insomnia

Get Support From Other New Moms on our Message Boards