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Randomized controlled trial of three interventions in the management of persistent crying of infancy
P C Parkin1, C J Schwartz, B A Manuel
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
This study found that specific interventions for infantile colic were no more effective than standard care. Reassurance and support alone led to similar reductions in infant crying and maternal anxiety over two weeks.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infant Health
- Maternal Mental Health
Background:
- Infantile colic, characterized by persistent crying, affects many infants.
- Maternal anxiety is a common concern associated with infant colic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of three distinct management methods for infantile colic.
- To compare interventions against standard care including pediatrician assessment and nursing support.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 38 mother-infant pairs over two weeks.
- Intervention groups received either counseling or a car-ride simulation device, alongside standard care.
- Control group received only standard care; all mothers completed crying diaries and anxiety questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Overall, a 24% reduction in daily crying hours and an 18% improvement in maternal anxiety were observed across all groups.
- No statistically significant differences in crying reduction or anxiety improvement were found between the intervention groups and the control group.
Conclusions:
- The natural course of infantile colic involves spontaneous improvement over time.
- Specific interventions tested did not demonstrate superior efficacy compared to reassurance and support alone in managing infant crying and maternal anxiety.
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of three methods in the management of infantile colic.
Methods:
Healthy infants with persistent crying were randomly assigned to one of three groups for a 2-week period. All groups received an assessment and reassurance from a pediatrician and support from a public health nurse. Group 1 also received counseling regarding specific management techniques. Group 2 also received a car-ride simulation device. Group 3 acted as a control. Mothers completed crying diaries and preintervention and postintervention anxiety questionnaires.
Results:
Thirty-eight mother-infant pairs were enrolled. Combining all three groups, there was a 24% reduction in daily hours of crying (P = .01) and a 18% improvement in maternal anxiety (P < .001), but no significant difference among groups.
Conclusions:
The natural history of persistent crying of infancy is improvement over time. These specific interventions proved no better than reassurance and support alone in decreasing daily hours of crying and maternal anxiety.
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