New Evidence on Unexplained Early Infant Crying: Its Origins, Nature and Management

s What is “Unexplained Early Crying”? Infant Crying and Its Impact on Parents Ian St. James-Roberts, PhD There is little consensus on how to measure infant crying, while different approaches identify hugely different amounts and features. This chapter offers a conceptual and methodologic guide which distinguishes between the crying, its perception by parents, and its impact as a problem for some parents and clinicians. Next, it summarizes what we know about the features of early infant crying which make it so distressing for Western parents. The prolonged, unsoothable and unexplained nature of some crying bouts seem to be key reasons for their concern. Lastly, the term “colic” and others which add to the confusion in this area are reviewed, and suggestions are made for reducing the confusion. The Possible Contribution of Temperament to Understanding the Origins and Consequences of Persistent and Excessive Crying Nathan A. Fox, PhD and Cindy P. Polak Developmental psychologists have sought to understand the early origins, functions, and individual differences in infant crying, in part to determine whether this behavior has long-term consequences for the infant and for the infant-parent relationship. One subset of infants, who present with a temperamental disposition toward irritability and negative affect, may display characteristic behaviors that can persist for years. The type of caregiving that such children receive may modulate, at least in part, the degree to which early infant irritability predicts later social withdrawal. 4 Section 1: What is “Unexplained Early Crying”? Infant Crying: Expectations and Parental Response Lewis A. Leavitt, MD Cultural expectations, parental belief systems, and characteristics unique to individual infants all influence parental perceptions of infant crying. Infants who cry excessively may cause parents heightened distress and may have an effect on parents’ responses to them. Helping parents develop skills to respond to their infants’ signals may enhance parental self-efficacy.