It may be more convenient for the parent, but studies show that when a baby is crying unattended, the baby's body releases cortisol, a stress hormone, which has been proven to slow brain development- Cortisol is also the stress hormone that Police Officers get at work due to the high stress situations they are in, which can cause heart problems- which is why many police officers have to work-out after a shift, to burn off the excess cortisol. If it feels bad to do, there is a reason....it is your instincts warning you. God made baby's cries ANNOYING to hear for a reason, so we would respond to them. Holding your crying baby is indeed the best for baby, while sometimes not easiest for mom or dad. I have been there. My son had colic (we later found out it was from dairy) but we always held him when he cried, and he is an amazing child now....don't listen to moms and dads who say their child turned out just fine...they may have, but the baby learned that crying does nothing for them. Baby's CAN reason...heck baby's can even learn to read now, lol...they are not blobs of cells, but a human being with emotions and fears too. A cry is a baby's way of asking for help. They are saying, "mommy help me!" ..."WHosoever ignores the cry of the poor and weak will also cry out himself and not be heard" Proverbs 21:13