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Early Infant Crying: What We Know and What Can Help

Early Infant Crying: What We Know and What Can Help. Marsha Baker, OTR/L, MA, M.Ed. Becoming a Parent. “It’s like getting on the fast track to personal growth and you can’t get off.”. (Als, 1983). (Als, 1983). All babies cry…. Crying is a Biological Alarm. Graded signal

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Early Infant Crying: What We Know and What Can Help

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  1. Early Infant Crying: What We Know and What Can Help Marsha Baker, OTR/L, MA, M.Ed

  2. Becoming a Parent • “It’s like getting on the fast track to personal growth and you can’t get off.”

  3. (Als, 1983)

  4. (Als, 1983)

  5. All babies cry…

  6. Crying is a Biological Alarm • Graded signal • Alerts parent/caregiver • Does not tell source of distress • Parents respond to level of emotion in cry and context of cry (Barr, Hopkins, & Green, 2000; Gustafson, Wood, & Green,2000)

  7. Importance of Crying • Increases lung capacity • Increases motor activity • Generates heat & helps regulate temperature • Triggers social interaction • Ensures survival • “Acoustical umbilical cord” (Lester, 2006)

  8. Early Crying • Peaks at six to eight weeks • Wide variability in crying amounts across individuals and cultures • Parental responsiveness to early crying correlates with positive toddler behavior

  9. Normal Crying Curve • Peaks at 4-6 weeks • First documented in Brazelton’s practice • Replicated in 15 studies • Across cultures • True for preemies and full-terms 6 weeks 12 weeks

  10. Every Baby Is Different

  11. What is Colic? RULE OF 3’s • Crying in otherwise healthy infant that lasts: • More than 3 hours per day • More than 3 days per week • More than 3 weeks (Wessel, 1954)

  12. Excessive Crying Plus: • Sudden onset • Paroxysmal • Unpredictable • Cry quality • Higher pitch, reaches peak quickly • Like a pain cry • Physical signs • Clenched fists • Grimace/flushing • Gas/distention • Inconsolable (Lester, Boukydis, Garcia-Coll, & Hole, 1990) “Late afternoon fist-shaking rage”

  13. Colic is Crying of Infancy • Begins early: • 100% by 3 weeks • End varies: • 50% by 2 months • 80% by 3 months • 90% by 4 months (Weissbluth, 1998)

  14. Medical Conditions to Consider in Infants with Excessive Crying • Medical conditions account for <5% of infants with excessive crying • But it’s important to identify them so they can be treated!

  15. Doctors often unsure how to help “It will go away” “It’s just colic” When Crying Is Not a Medical Concern

  16. Why There’s Nothing “Just” About Colic? • Excessive crying may be a risk factor for: • Parent/infant relationship distress • Child abuse • Developmental/behavioral concerns • Maternal depression

  17. Excessive Crying andAbusive Head Trauma 2.75 hrs. Age in Weeks (Holliday-Hanson, Barr, & Trent, 2001)

  18. It’s Hard to Trust Your Instincts

  19. Crying of normal development Reflux or Milk Protein Allergy Regulatory problems, neurological hyper- sensitivity Immaturity of the digestive system Excessive gas Over-Tired Excessive Crying in Infancy Underlying medical condition Post Partum Depression Environmental Stressors (Smoking) Temperament Colic

  20. Start With What You Know • What is your baby’s day like? • How do you know when your baby is tired or stressed? • How is feeding going? Sleeping? • What helps soothe your baby? • What developmental changes is your baby experiencing? • What is your level of distress around your baby’s crying?

  21. Common Soothing Strategies • Containment • Rhythmic back and forth movement • Rhythmic sounds • Sucking/feeding • Warm or neutral temperature • Reducing amount of stimulation • Natural light • Parent support

  22. Plan for Stressful Moments • Sometimes babies are unsoothable • When you’re at the end of your rope: • Put the baby down • Take a break • Connect with someone

  23. Call Anytime Fussy Baby Network 1.888.431.2229

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