Crying and motor behavior of six-week-old infants and postpartum maternal mood.

Abstract

Maternal emotional distress and infant crying behavior are associated in the postpartum period independent of reporting or referral biases. Clinically significant levels of crying (or "colic") are differentially associated with different patterns of clinically significant maternal distress. Reported concern about either maternal mood or infant crying behavior should be taken seriously as a possible indicator of a stressed mother-infant relationship.