What Denmark’s Shift Away from “Cry It Out” Teaches Us About Healing Later in Life
- Iliyana Petrova
- Jan 17
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 5
Early childhood is more than just a developmental phase. It lays a neurobiological foundation for emotional regulation, stress response, attachment formation, and later cognitive and social outcomes. Modern neuroscience increasingly confirms what attachment theory and developmental psychology have long asserted: the infant brain is exquisitely sensitive to relational experiences.
This understanding has now reached the national policy level in Denmark.
Denmark’s Landmark Decision: Science Over Tradition
Denmark is officially moving away from the “cry it out” approach. A nationwide study revealed that this method was still being taught across municipalities, despite substantial professional concern. In response, over 700 psychologists signed a unified statement calling for immediate discontinuation. They emphasized that elevated stress hormones and disrupted caregiver-infant attunement can risk long-term neural and emotional outcomes.
While debates persist about the specific outcomes of “cry it out” sleep training in infancy, some longitudinal studies find no direct adverse effects on attachment measured at 18 months. However, these findings do not fully address the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying stress responses and long-term regulation strategies in early life.
The Biology of Infant Stress and Caregiver Response
Infant cries are not arbitrary noise; they are biologically meaningful signals. When an infant’s distress is met with caregiver comfort, regulators such as heart rate and breathing are stabilized. This reinforces pathways essential for adaptive stress response. Sensitive caregiving functions as an external regulator of the infant’s developing autonomic and neuroendocrine systems.
Conversely, cortisol, a core stress hormone produced via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, rises significantly in infants experiencing distress. This is especially true when caregiver responses are inconsistent or absent. Research in naturalistic contexts shows that caregiving behavior modulates cortisol reactivity. Repeated exposure to stressors without soothing can influence the developing brain’s regulation systems.
Attachment and Neurodevelopment: What the Evidence Shows
Infant attachment security is shaped by caregiver responsiveness. This responsiveness affects stress hormone patterns and later emotional functioning. For example:
Secure attachment patterns correlate with lower cortisol elevations during stress.
Insecure patterns align with heightened physiological stress responses.
Sensitive caregiving supports early neurodevelopment and emotional regulation. It programs circuits in regions such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus—areas central to emotion and stress processing. These connections between early experience and neurodevelopment illustrate why responsive caregiving matters for long-term emotional stability—not merely immediate behavior.
The Debate about “Cry It Out”
One longitudinal study of 178 infants reported no adverse developmental or attachment outcomes at 18 months associated with occasional use of “cry it out.” However, researchers and clinicians caution that the absence of findings at 18 months does not equate to evidence of no effect on neurobiological systems. This is especially true when key measures like cortisol dynamics and quality of caregiver regulation aren’t directly assessed.
Other work on the neurobiology of parental response shows that infant crying engages multiple interacting systems—hormonal, neural, and motivational. This underscores the complexity of interpreting stress and attachment responses in isolation.
The Correlation: Early Emotional Imprinting and Later Patterns
Many adults struggle with chronic anxiety, emotional suppression, over-dependency or avoidance in relationships, and challenges with trust and regulation. These issues may stem from implicit nervous system adaptations rooted in early relational patterns—predating conscious memory formation.
These patterns often reflect how the nervous system learned to manage stress. They do not indicate a flaw in character or intention.
Non-Hypnotic Regression as a Repair Pathway
Non-hypnotic regression processes approach early imprints not by reliving trauma but by accessing preverbal sensorimotor and affective patterns stored in the nervous system. This can help:
Identify early-formed stress and attachment patterns.
Safely reorganize responses within a relational therapeutic context.
Establish corrective experiences of safety and containment.
Such approaches recognize the plasticity of the nervous system across the lifespan. They aim to foster regulation rather than suppression.
Supporting Nervous System Repair Later in Life
Research-aligned practices that support healing and regulatory integration include:
Somatic and mindfulness-based regulation practices.
Attachment-focused therapeutic models.
Neurodevelopmentally informed interventions.
Relational experiences that validate emotional expression.
These strategies do not erase early experiences. Instead, they reshape the nervous system’s expectations for safety and co-regulation.
The Importance of Holistic Healing
Holistic healing is essential for overcoming the challenges rooted in early experiences. It involves integrating mind, body, and spirit. By focusing on the whole person, we can unlock our inner potential. This journey towards healing can be transformative. It encourages us to explore our emotional landscapes and understand our responses.
As we engage in practices that promote well-being, we can foster a healthier, more fulfilling life. This is not just about addressing symptoms but about nurturing our entire being.
By embracing holistic practices, we can cultivate resilience. We can learn to navigate life's challenges with grace and strength. This journey is about self-discovery and empowerment. It is about reclaiming our narrative and stepping into our true selves.
References & Research Sources
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Stress reactivity and attachment security
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