Crying behaviour

The meaning of early increased, excessive or colic crying in infancy has evolved from a belief that it is abnormal or indicative of disease/dysfunction to the realization that this increased crying is a normal part of human infant development. Clinicians should be aware of the importance of crying to parents, how frustrating it can be and how it may be affecting their relationship with their infants.

When helping parents with infants who cry excessively, we should assure them that most infants who cry a great deal are healthy, and that the unpredictable, inconsolable crying usually stops spontaneously after the first few weeks. Interventions that are aimed at consoling crying infants are only partially successful, and do not reduce the inconsolable crying bouts. It is also important to recognize that variations in the sound of the cry itself may affect the reaction of the caregiver. We should be especially sensitive to caregivers experiencing depression or other condition(s) that can alter their perceptual set.

Public health information and interventions should be rigorously evaluated before being recommended as techniques for managing infant crying. Attempts should be made to create cost-effective and efficient services to meet the needs of families with young infants.

Reduction of Shaken Baby Syndrome:
Shaken Baby Syndrome is an extreme response to infant crying. Reduction in the incidence of this syndrome may be attained by public health education programs delivered early, perhaps even before the infant is born, in an effort to increase parents’ understanding of normal crying, its patterns in infancy, and how the frustration that is experienced can lead to inappropriate shaking or abuse.

See also...

• How important is it?
• What do we know?
• According to experts
• Key messages