Early infant crying: child and family follow-up at three years.

Abstract

Children who cried excessively at six to eight weeks of age were re-examined at two to four years of age to determine the enduring effects of excessive crying ("colic") on behavioural development, parent-child interaction, and family functioning. The more crying in early infancy, the more family disruptions occurred three years later (r = .29). Analyses showed that early crying had little impact on the children's later behavioural development. No significant major lasting effects on the family related to the infant's early crying behaviour were found. Families with sufficient social and economic resources can be reassured that problems related to early infant crying can be ameliorated over time.