COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- New parents have many decisions to make after their baby is born: breast-feeding or bottle feeding, using a pacifier and methods for getting the baby to sleep.

One of those methods, commonly known as 'crying it out,' can be controversial. Crying it out is when, if your child isn't falling asleep on their own or waking up in the middle of the night, the parents let their baby cry itself to sleep. Many parents disagree on the option.

Amanda Lundgren is a mom who did try the method. Her one year old daughter, Alice, still hasn't slept through the night.

"Some night, she'd only cry two minutes and some she'd still cry 30," Lundgren said. "My husband and I got to the point after two months of letting her do this at bedtime where we were like, you know what? This is not worth it. We'd rather just stand there and pat her back to sleep because that's what she needs."

While the two parents say crying it out wasn't for them, Amanda said they also understand why parents are willing to try the tactic.

"Before I had a kid, I thought I'd be fine letting them cry, but once you have a baby and you hear them cry, it's just horrible," Lundgren said.

Many of the crying it out critics believe letting the baby cry without comfort could have psychological effects. Local counselor Christy Sorden said that's not true.

"I don't believe in any sleep-training programs before the age of six months, due to babies needing to eat and wake in the middle of the night," Sorden said. "There hasn't been enough research to show psychological effects for even older children."

Sorden said, after checking to make sure nothing is wrong with your child, the best method for sleep-training is consistency.

"It's most important for parents to choose something they feel most comfortable with as well as consideration. Each child has their own personality and temperament, so making sure you're comfortable with that and addressing their needs as well," Sorden said. "Consistency is the most important thing, whichever training you decide to use."