The Surviving Crying study: progress report for the first stage of research

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Developmental Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Infant colic is often defined by prolonged crying, but parental concern about excessive crying also signifies distress.
• A distinction is needed between infant crying duration and parental perception of the issue.
• Existing healthcare services may not adequately address parental concerns regarding infant crying.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate National Health Service (NHS) services supporting parents of infants with excessive crying.
• To create a comprehensive parental support package addressing both infant crying and parental worry.
• To balance the traditional focus on infant crying with the impact on parents.

Main Methods:

• The Surviving Crying study developed a multi-component parental support package.
• Components include a website, printed materials, and a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based program manual.
• Stage one focused on package development; stage two involves evaluation of its NHS suitability.

Main Results:

• A parental support package, including digital and print resources and a CBT program, was developed in stage one.
• The package aims to provide accessible support for parents experiencing distress due to infant crying.
• Stage two is currently evaluating the package's effectiveness and feasibility for NHS implementation.

Conclusions:

• Distinguishing between infant crying and parental concern is crucial for effective support.
• The developed support package offers a novel approach to addressing parental distress related to infant crying.
• Further evaluation is needed to confirm the suitability and impact of this package within routine NHS care.