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Getting the word out: advice on crying and colic in popular parenting magazines

Nicole L A Catherine1, Jenny J Ko, Ronald G Barr

  • 1Centre for Community Child Health Research, Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP
|November 27, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Parenting magazine advice on infant crying and colic lacks consensus on causes and responses. Mentions of physical abuse, including shaken baby syndrome (SBS), were rare, highlighting a gap in evidence-based guidance for parents.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Media Studies

Background:

  • Infant crying and colic are common, often causing parental distress.
  • Understanding the causes and appropriate responses is crucial for infant well-being and preventing harm.
  • Parenting magazines are a significant source of information for new parents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate if Canadian parenting magazine advice aligns with evidence-based understanding of infant crying and colic.
  • To assess the representation of colic as part of normal infant development.
  • To determine the frequency of mentioning physical abuse, specifically shaken baby syndrome (SBS), as a consequence of infant crying.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of 51 articles from 11 Canadian parenting magazines (2000-2004).
  • Hand-searched for information on causes, responses, and mention of SBS or abuse related to infant crying and colic.

Main Results:

  • A lack of agreement was found regarding the 105 suggested causes and 231 recommended responses for infant crying and colic.
  • Physical abuse was mentioned only 7 times, and shaken baby syndrome (SBS) only twice in relation to infant crying and colic.
  • The advice provided in parenting magazines did not consistently reflect current evidence-based understanding.

Conclusions:

  • Parenting magazine advice on infant crying and colic is inconsistent and lacks evidence-based consensus.
  • The infrequent mention of serious consequences like shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a concern.
  • Improving the quality and accuracy of parenting advice requires collaboration between healthcare professionals, researchers, and journalists.

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