Excessive infant crying: often not confined to the first 3 months of age

Early Hum Dev. 2001 Aug;64(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/s0378-3782(01)00166-9.

Abstract

Excessive crying/fussing in infancy may account for serious problems in mother-infant interactions but is believed to be self-limiting around the age of 3 months. A random digit dialling telephone survey weighted by sex, age, and population density and yielding 662 children aged 9 to <36 months was used to estimate prevalence and the proportion of cases where this problem extends beyond the third month postpartum. Excessive infant crying/fussing during the first 3 months of age was found in 21.0% (95% CI 17.9-24.1) and persisted for longer in 39.6% (95% CI 31.5-47.7) of these. Professionals consulting parents on crying problems should take into account its possible persistence for longer periods of time.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Breast Feeding
  • Child Behavior Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Crying / psychology*
  • Demography
  • Female
  • Germany, East / epidemiology
  • Germany, West / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Maternal Behavior
  • Middle Aged
  • Mother-Child Relations*
  • Prevalence
  • Random Allocation
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Telephone