[codingdave]

> There is no point comforting a crying baby

I've had 3 children, and found this to be 100% false. Every crying baby has a reason, and if you build a checklist of things to check, almost all babies can be calmed down. I say almost, because there are exceptions to everything.

It has been years, so I no longer have the list in my head, but it boiled down to making sure everything in their environment is in moderation. Not too hot, not too cold, not overstimulated, not under-stimulated. Are they hungry? Wet? Dirty? Tired? Scared? ... you get the idea. Sure, "comforting" them by telling them things will be OK isn't effective. But finding and fixing problems works. And most of us folk on HN are good at such things.

[revx]

So true. I think the idea that a newborn should be left on its own is pretty terrible. No 1-month-old is going to be able to logically determine that you're not going to show up for them. All they know is that something is wrong. Rock your kid to sleep. Love them. Once they get to the point where you can reason with them you can leave them alone, since then they know why you're doing it.