This distinction works for 自動詞 (intransitive verbs, like "立つ”), where there is no direct object. However, with 他動詞 (transitive verbs, like "食べる”), where there is a direct object, you have to use ”に” either way.
ex：子供に人参を食べさせた ( [I] let/made the kid[s] eat carrots )
A better way to make the distinction in your own speech, and the way in which Japanese people usually make the distinction, is to attach an auxiliary verb of giving or receiving (i.e. "あげる” or "もらう”) to the causative verb.
ex：子供に人参を食べさせてやった ( [I] let the kid[s] eat carrots )
Generally, in natural Japanese, if the causative comes without an auxiliary verb of giving or receiving, then it carries the meaning of "make" rather than "let."
This is especially true when the subject of the sentence is the one who is being "let" or "made" to do the action. The way the subject switch happens is by either having a causative-passive conjugation, or an auxiliary verb of receiving (i.e. "もらう”), and the choice dictates whether it's "let" or "make."
ex1 : 母に人参を食べさせてもらった ( [I] got [my] mom to let [me] eat carrots )
ex2 : 母に人参を食べさせられた ( [I] was made by [my] mom to eat carrots )
This distinction works for
This distinction works for 自動詞 (intransitive verbs, like "立つ”), where there is no direct object. However, with 他動詞 (transitive verbs, like "食べる”), where there is a direct object, you have to use ”に” either way.
ex：子供に人参を食べさせた ( [I] let/made the kid[s] eat carrots )
A better way to make the distinction in your own speech, and the way in which Japanese people usually make the distinction, is to attach an auxiliary verb of giving or receiving (i.e. "あげる” or "もらう”) to the causative verb.
ex：子供に人参を食べさせてやった ( [I] let the kid[s] eat carrots )
Generally, in natural Japanese, if the causative comes without an auxiliary verb of giving or receiving, then it carries the meaning of "make" rather than "let."
This is especially true when the subject of the sentence is the one who is being "let" or "made" to do the action. The way the subject switch happens is by either having a causative-passive conjugation, or an auxiliary verb of receiving (i.e. "もらう”), and the choice dictates whether it's "let" or "make."
ex1 : 母に人参を食べさせてもらった ( [I] got [my] mom to let [me] eat carrots )
ex2 : 母に人参を食べさせられた ( [I] was made by [my] mom to eat carrots )