Crying in the first year of life: good news in the midst of distress

Journal/Book: Child Care Health Develop. 1998; 24: P O Box 88, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0NE, Oxon, England. Blackwell Science Ltd. 425-439.

Abstract: Excessive crying and colic in the first 3 months of life remain as mysterious and unsolved clinical problems. The mystery is contributed to by the relative lack of long-term follow-up studies. The findings from four new follow-up studies of infants with prior colic are analyzed in an attempt to derive a clearer picture of what 'life after colic' might be like for parents, infants, and their interactions. The bad news Is that, for a subgroup of infants and parents, especially those with substantial additional risk factors, early excessive crying may not resolve, but evolve into a more generalized 'persistent mother-infant distress' syndrome. For some mothers of infants with colic, the risk of depressive symptoms or decreased self-efficacy may be increased. However, there appears to be good news for a substantial majority of infants with colic and for their parents. This includes a significant reduction over time in the amount of crying, intact parental and Infant capacities to be responsive in interactive contexts, no significant maternal stress, and normal attachment relationships.

Note: Article Barr RG, Mcgill Univ, Child Dev Programme, Montreal Childrens Hosp, Res Inst, C-808, 2300 Rue Tupper, Montreal, PQ H3H 1P3, CANADA

Keyword(s): crying; fussing; colic; mother-infant interaction; behavioural state; caregiving; EARLY INFANCY; PATTERNS; RESPONSIVENESS; PERCEPTIONS; TEMPERAMENT; COMMUNITY; BEHAVIOR; MOTHERS; CURVE

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