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Excessive infant crying: definitions determine risk groups
S A Reijneveld1, E Brugman, R A Hirasing
1TNO (Netherlands Organisation of Applied Scientific Research) Prevention and Health, Leiden, Netherlands. SA.Reijneveld@pg.tno.nl
Insights
Different definitions of excessive infant crying create varied risk groups. This inconsistency may explain conflicting research on the causes and prevalence of infant crying. Understanding these differences is key for accurate diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infant Health
- Child Development
Background:
- Excessive infant crying is a common concern for parents and healthcare providers.
- Existing research on the causes and prevalence of excessive crying presents conflicting evidence.
- Standardized definitions are needed to accurately assess risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate how different definitions of excessive infant crying impact the identification of at-risk groups.
- To analyze the variability in risk group classification based on diverse criteria.
- To explore the implications of definitional discrepancies for understanding crying occurrence and etiology.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 3179 infants aged 1-6 months was studied with a 96.5% response rate.
- Ten distinct published definitions for excessive infant crying were applied.
- Risk factors assessed included parental employment, living area, lifestyle, and obstetric history.
Main Results:
- The classification of infants into risk groups for excessive crying varied significantly depending on the definition used.
- Inconsistencies were observed across various demographic and obstetric factors.
- No single definition consistently identified the same risk groups.
Conclusions:
- The heterogeneity in defining excessive infant crying contributes to conflicting research findings.
- Variability in risk group assessment hinders a clear understanding of crying's causes and prevalence.
- Standardization of definitions is crucial for advancing research and clinical practice in infant crying.
Abstract:
We assessed risk groups for excessive infant crying using 10 published definitions, in 3179 children aged 1-6 months (response: 96.5%). Risk groups regarding parental employment, living area, lifestyle, and obstetric history varied by definition. This may explain the existence of conflicting evidence on the occurrence and cause of excessive crying.