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Crying as a Baby May Lead to Lifetime of Behavioral Problems
Filed under: Babies, In The News, Behavior
Parents should help babies learn to soothe themselves. Credit: Getty Images
New findings suggest that while crying and waking in the middle of the night may be a normal part of a newborn's life, regular wailing episodes that last beyond the first year could signal chronic depression, anxiety and other conduct disorders by the time they're ready for kindergarten, Time magazine reports.
Researchers in England looked at nearly two dozen studies on what developmental experts call regulatory problems, including sleeping, continuous crying and difficulty feeding, reporting their findings in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. They found that infants who consistently cry and wake up past the third month are nearly twice as likely to develop problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, aggressive behavior or conduct disorders by the time they begin school.
What happens, the experts report, is that the babies never develop the ability to calm themselves down or act appropriately in different social situations, according to Time.
"We found a particularly strong relationship between regulatory problems in infancy and conduct disorders or ADHD, which are problems of under-control, in which children can't regulate their attention, or fly off the handle and can't control their behavior," Dieter Wolke, one of the study co-authors and a professor of developmental psychology at the University of Warwick in England tells Time.
It's not exactly certain what the link is to crying jags and a lifetime of fussy behavior, but there are several possible reasons, Wolke tells Time. What might happen, the experts tell the magazine, is that the babies never develop the ability to calm themselves down or act appropriately in different social situations.
Wolke tells Time the data doesn't support an obvious link between extended crying jags and picky eating during infancy and later behavioral problems, but there are several possibilities. One may be that crying and waking up at night are simply the first signs of behavioral problems involving a lack of self-control.
In addition, Wolke tells Time, some infants may be genetically susceptible to problems regulating their behavior; specifically, scientists have recently identified a version of a gene involved in dopamine function, which governs mood and emotions as well as motor function, that may make some infants more vulnerable to behavioral problems.
The findings suggest that parents should do what they can to help their babies learn to sooth themselves. Parents should learn to establish schedules and not run to pick up babies every time they cry, Wolke tells Time.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
4-26-2011 @ 3:31AM
ksg123 said..."Parents should learn to establish schedules and not run to pick up babies every time they cry, Wolke tells Time."
Really? What crappy advice. Leaving your baby to cry it out raises their cortisol and teaches them they can't trust their caregivers. Babies don't manipulate you. Such old, tired myths.
I think I would have a life of depression, anxiety, etc if my parents left me to cry it out when I just wanted someone to play with me or pick me up. Co-sleeping, holding your baby, responding to your child- these things help children develop confidence and independence. Leaving them to "self soothe" leaves your baby constantly stressed, unable to trust people, and makes them insecure because their needs aren't always met.
Please do your research before following such outdated advice. Attachment parenting isn't just for hippies and it creates such healthy minded children.
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4-26-2011 @ 12:18PM
Nicole said...Amen! I don't dispute the study, but the interpretation of the results.
I see more and more mothers "too busy" to hold their babies (instead letting them fuss in the car or in the stroller in car seats) and rigidly enforcing eating and sleeping schedules (so, if baby is hungry or tired they simply fuss and cry themselves to sleep).
Disassociation with babies would be my interpretation of today's dilemma. I even spent two hours at my friend's home cringing and in a mild state of panic myself as I had to sit there and listen to her month old baby "cry it out" alone in another room in a crib to fall asleep for naptime. It didn't seem to bother her, but I was crawling the walls. I just don't understand why we can't hold them, love them, nurse/feed them on demand and just let them develop in a state of love and trust.
Seriously. Scientists need a study to figure out why kids are anxious? Moms--hang up the phone. Hold that baby. Nurse that baby. Soothe that baby. Model healthy emotional reactions in front of baby. GAH.
4-26-2011 @ 2:11PM
loridemeretz said...I agree with you. My daughter is 6 months old and I get told about not letting her "cry it out" I hold her and rock her to sleep. When she cries in the middle of the night, I go and get her. Most nights, all she really wants is a clean diaper and to nurse. She cuddles for a bit and goes back to sleep.I know that if I am hungry, I don't sleep well, so I get up and get a drink or a snack. So why can't babies do the same? She has actually put herself on somewhat of a schedule. It's not exact but I can usually tell by the time of day what her cries mean and what she wants. During the day, she is generally happy and is smiling. If I don't get housework done because I spend a lot of time with her, holding her, or playing on the floor with her, so what? If that makes me a bad mom, then so be it.
4-26-2011 @ 3:16PM
EAL said...I've seen babies that literally NEVER stop crying. And I mean cry 24/7, non stop. I've seen three day old infants sleep only two or three hours a day & are wide awake, day & night......crying. Nothing at all is wrong with kid, physically or mentally. Now I see why people don't want kids..............they cry way too much. Don't like the comment? Too bad....deal with it.
4-26-2011 @ 4:51PM
alex said...I agree with some of the research presented, but come on parents let's get real! we are dealing with babies that easily learn to be held at all times and parents running to pick them up for every little whine. If you think babies don't learn habits faster than you can you think you are sadly mistaken. But, on the other hand if really depends on the baby's character. Some babies just require more attention that others and the poor parents that are confused on what to do with the forever crying baby. I have seen plenty of crying babies in my family and one thing I have noticed is, that most out grow it as they get older. But overall kids need to be taught there are boundries, rules and not to take advantage of them and that start at home with the parents.
4-26-2011 @ 4:43PM
ksg123 said...EAL- I don't doubt that there are some babies who cry more than others. These children should be evaluated by a pediatrician to rule out real problems. Making these children "cry it out" and learn to self-soothe may mask hidden health problems.
the advice given is also contradictory to what the article is about. What I got from it was"Babies who cry a lot can wind up with long-term depression, etc so you should let them cry and figure it out themselves..." HUH?!
From my understanding, raised cortisol in babies can alter brain chemistry. So I can see where the study may be correct. Lowering the stress hormones will curb these later problems, not stressing them out and ignoring their cries even more.
4-26-2011 @ 1:51PM
Maggie said...The obama girls should have DNA tests to find out which one of them was actually biologically fathered by Barack, if either one really was. Its obvious they each came from different daddies, and everyone knows how colored people are.
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4-26-2011 @ 3:08PM
heib said...What does this have to do with infants crying. Someone needs to learn to read!
4-26-2011 @ 3:36PM
KB said...Good grief, any reason to shove ADHD down parents throats, aka a BIG advertisement for those drugs to control that condition.
As for crying it out... hmmm, let them cry to the point of losing their voice or puking in their beds? I say NOT. My children do get up and cry and BOTH are over the age of 3 months. So I guess to these "studies" my girls are destined to be doped out on ADHD meds by age 5.
Guess what? They won't be and never will be on ADHD. Does the studies include all situations?? Doubt that seriously.
My 6 month old not only wakes and amuses herself for a couple hours in the middle of the night. She often wets herself so violently during the night she shrieks violently to get changed. She also gets very very hungry around 5am (previous bottle usually is between 6pm and 8pm) and screams and growls (similar to a character in the movie The Grudge/Ju-on). But she gets changed and fed promptly and goes back to sleep or play whichever the case may be. But to this study... she is bound for ADHD, anti anxiety or anti depressant drugs. Oh baloney! She is a perfectly normal baby.... save for that she has mild fluid behind her ears and has a recurrent sinus problem that we may be seeing an ENT soon about.
And my 1 1/2 year old has been getting up and down from age 6 months on to now (from 2 months to 6 months she slept thru the night). I expected a regression when I became pregnant with her little sister, so bringing back night feedings and the waking up was expected to be honest. She has had ear infections & fluid behind her ears for a long while now, also has similar sinus problems to her baby sister (and others in mine and my husband's sides of the family). She also has about 8 teeth all erupting at the same time (four being her upper molars), watching her sleep she seems to vividly dream (seeing her react). Do they include these situations? Or just label her a trouble maker in the making? I think they have it wrong... BIG TIME.
Oh and I will feel the same way when my newest addition to the family is born later this year.
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4-26-2011 @ 4:09PM
deeonedge said...Babies coo, they cry. They cry when they need attention. A baby needs to communicate and crying is their only form of language.
A baby cannot be spoiled early....they need to know you are there for them...in the long run it makes for a happier child later in life. They know they can count on their care giver. I know because I am expierianced...25+ years of licensed child care.
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4-26-2011 @ 10:02PM
Mom of ADDers said...The researchers have it backwards. Of course try to soothe your baby, but understand that ADD is mostly GENETIC, which means it is present from conception. Therefore, parenting has little effect on it. So don't get your panties twisted believing you are at fault if you can't make your baby be neurotypical, and don't let others' judgemental comments get to you. Treat the symptoms as they come up, and try not to worry too much about the future. That's what I've learned, as an ADHDer mother and spouse to ADDers.
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4-26-2011 @ 6:45PM
laughin@stupid study said...lol what a load of do do
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4-27-2011 @ 8:19AM
Mom in AZ said...Oh puh-leeze. My now 7-year-old was one of THE most difficult babies....lots of crying in the middle of the night, usually the toddler crying to come out of his stroller and be carried, always the wailer on the airplane. At about his third birthday, he did a complete 180. He is now one of the easiest, sweetest, most communicative, most well adjusted kids you will ever meet. I sense no depression, no anxiety, no cause for alarm. Parents, don't fret.
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4-27-2011 @ 2:16AM
lala said...No parent wants to think they haven't done the absolute best thing for their baby, and almost always I think our intentions are all good. So it's really hard for us parents to be really objective and think about why we are doing what we do. I had a terrible cry baby first time- I did everything anyone suggested, but for the first four months she just cried pretty much 24/7. My husband's friend had suggested (very kindly and unobtrusively) that they had had a miserable first 6 months with their first baby, until they tried imposing a routine, which worked within a week. Despite their kind intentions, I was totally opposed to this, partly because the vogue for "child led parenting" is so huge at the moment (no doubt this will change, as it does every few years). When finally, out of desperation, I tried the routine, my baby virtually stopped crying and became happy and contented within about 5 days. I did same thing with my son from day one- breast fed both kids until 1 year- and same- he was just happy happy happy. It's always a mystery why all the so-called experts think it's awful to put your baby in a routine, they seem to love it and feel secure and happy, from the first week they settle into it. So if you're miserable and tired of sleepless nights and stress, try it. Hang in there for a week until your bubba is really in his routine and see how his personality just emerges -now that all his needs are anticipated and met, he doesn't need to cry to let you know he's hungry/ tired etc, because you'll know exactly what he needs in advance. It enabled me to really love being a mum, instead of just being exhausted and miserable.
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6-24-2011 @ 11:01AM
Another Mom in AZ said...As far as I can tell from this article, the study shows a CORRELATION between fussy babies and later behavioral problems.
There is nothing here that suggests how the researchers determined what was the advisable method to reduce infant crying. In fact this article contradicts itself. The first sentence says parents had better learn to sing lullabies and soothe. Then later we are told the prescription is that babies need to learn to calm themselves while their parents stay hands-off.
Could it be that the babies in question were crying because they had too little parental attention and not too much? Anthropological studies show much, much less crying by infants in societies where babies have higher levels of physical contact with adults.
So far as I can tell, the researchers’ conclusion that babies need to be left alone more to self-soothe reflects nothing more than widespread Western prejudices. When you rely on unproven assumptions, you may end up heading in exactly the wrong direction.
Written by a mother of two lovely 20-somethings, and a firm believer in attachment parenting.
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