[The problems and management of excessive crying and fussing in infants]
1Department of Nursing, Tao-yuan Armed Forces General Hospital.
Insights
Infantile colic, or excessive infant crying, significantly disrupts families and lacks a clear definition. Understanding crying causes and management is crucial for infant well-being and parental support.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatal Care
- Child Psychology
Context:
- Infantile colic, characterized by excessive infant crying and fussing, is a prevalent concern for parents.
- This condition frequently leads to infant sleep disturbances and can negatively impact family dynamics.
- Parental responses to excessive crying range widely, with some potentially harmful actions posing risks to infant health.
Purpose:
- To address the lack of a definitive consensus on the definition of excessive infant crying.
- To present various definitions, measurement methods, etiological factors, and management strategies for infantile colic.
- To enhance understanding among healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, and provide effective coping mechanisms for parents.
Summary:
- Excessive infant crying, or colic, presents diagnostic challenges due to varied definitions primarily based on duration and parental impact.
- The article explores diverse aspects of infant crying, including its causes, measurement, and effective settling techniques.
- It aims to consolidate current knowledge to support healthcare providers and parents in managing this common issue.
Impact:
- Facilitates a clearer understanding of infantile colic for nurses and healthcare providers.
- Empowers parents with knowledge and strategies to effectively manage excessive infant crying.
- Promotes safer infant care practices by highlighting potential risks associated with certain parental interventions.
Abstract:
Excessive crying and fussing in young infants, often called "infantile colic", is a common and often serious problem for parents. It is also associated with infant sleep disturbance and possible disruptions in family life. As such, parents may undertake a variety of actions to stop excessive infant crying, some of which may be detrimental to infant health (e.g., physical shaking). Despite its potentially substantial negative health consequences, there remains no consensus regarding a definitive definition of excessive crying. Available definitions mostly focus on infant crying duration and its effect on parents. A number of different definitions, measurements, causes of crying, and settling management are presented in this article to help foster an understanding of this issue among nurses and to assist parents to cope effectively.
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