[Infant crying--a safety risk?]

A Dutch study is described, in which the occurrence of potentially detrimental parental actions induced by infant crying were assessed and thereafter related to various factors, including the parents' judgment that the crying was "excessive". commentary in the same Lancet issue questions whether this might be interpreted as a "blaming of the victim" process. Official Swedish and international statistics on child abuse, especially a recent UNICEF report, are summarized. The co-occurrence of spouse and child abuse is briefly discussed. Southall and co-workers' report on covert video recordings of life threatening child abuse is related, as well as some of the public reactions following it, and a proposed new categorization of child abuse.