A prospective study on the persistence of infant crying, sleeping and feeding problems and preschool behaviour

G Schmid1, A Schreier, R Meyer

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Insights

Regulatory problems (RP) like excessive crying, feeding, and sleeping issues often persist from infancy to preschool. Persistent RP predict poorer preschool adaptive behavior and social skills, highlighting the need for early intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Child Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Regulatory problems (RP) such as excessive crying, feeding, and sleeping difficulties are common in infancy.
  • The long-term persistence and predictive value of these early regulatory problems are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the persistence of regulatory problems from infancy to preschool age.
  • To evaluate if early regulatory problems at 5 months predict preschool adaptive behavior and social skills.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective population study of newborns.
  • Parent interviews and neurological examinations assessed RP at 5, 20, and 56 months.
  • Preschool adaptive behavior and social skills were assessed via parent ratings; logistic and linear regression analyses were used.

Main Results:

  • Over half of infants experienced RP at some point; 8% had persistent RP into preschool years.
  • Multiple RP and feeding problems predicted later eating issues.
  • Persistent RP and feeding problems were significant predictors of deficits in preschool adaptive behavior and social skills.

Conclusions:

  • Multiple regulatory problems and feeding issues exhibit high stability.
  • Persistent regulatory problems are linked to adverse social and adaptive outcomes in preschool.
  • Understanding the causes of persistent RP is crucial for developing preventive strategies.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
Naturalistic Observations02:30

Naturalistic Observations

If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.