Excessive crying, sleeping or feeding problems are found in approximately 20% of infants and may predict behavioural problems in childhood.
Excessive sleeping, feeding or crying troubles (regulatory problems) during infancy are associated with a higher risk for behavioural problems later in childhood.
Excessive crying, sleeping or feeding problems are found in approximately 20% of infants and may predict behavioural problems in childhood. Previous research has suggested these regulatory problems can have an adverse effect on behavioural or cognitive development later in childhood, but findings have been inconclusive.
To test the the nature and strength of any link between regulatory problems in early infancy and childhood behavioural problems , researchers studied data on 22 longitudinal studies from 1987 to 2006, which tested16,848 children including 935 children with regulatory problems. Of the 22 studies, 10 studies reported on consequences of excessive crying, four on sleeping problems, three on feeding problems, and five studies on multiple regulatory problems. Childhood behavioural problems were divided into four categories - internalising (anxiety, depression or withdrawal), externalising (aggressive or destructive behaviour, conduct problems or temper tantrums), attention deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) and general behavioural problems.
It was found that infants with previous regulatory problems were more likely to have childhood behavioural problems than were other infants. The most likely childhood behavioural issues for infants with regulatory problems were attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder and externalising problems, such as aggressive or destructive behaviour, conduct problems and temper tantrums. The more types of regulatory problems displayed by an infant, the more likely this was to increase the risk of the child to exhibit behavioural problems later. Children referred for professional help came from families with a range of risk factors such as obstetric, interactional, or psychosocial problems.
The findings highlight the need for early intervention in infants with persistent crying, sleeping or feeding problems to prevent their long-term consequences.
Excessive crying, sleeping or feeding problems are found in approximately 20% of infants and may predict behavioural problems in childhood. Previous research has suggested these regulatory problems can have an adverse effect on behavioural or cognitive development later in childhood, but findings have been inconclusive.
To test the the nature and strength of any link between regulatory problems in early infancy and childhood behavioural problems , researchers studied data on 22 longitudinal studies from 1987 to 2006, which tested16,848 children including 935 children with regulatory problems. Of the 22 studies, 10 studies reported on consequences of excessive crying, four on sleeping problems, three on feeding problems, and five studies on multiple regulatory problems. Childhood behavioural problems were divided into four categories - internalising (anxiety, depression or withdrawal), externalising (aggressive or destructive behaviour, conduct problems or temper tantrums), attention deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) and general behavioural problems.
It was found that infants with previous regulatory problems were more likely to have childhood behavioural problems than were other infants. The most likely childhood behavioural issues for infants with regulatory problems were attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder and externalising problems, such as aggressive or destructive behaviour, conduct problems and temper tantrums. The more types of regulatory problems displayed by an infant, the more likely this was to increase the risk of the child to exhibit behavioural problems later. Children referred for professional help came from families with a range of risk factors such as obstetric, interactional, or psychosocial problems.
The findings highlight the need for early intervention in infants with persistent crying, sleeping or feeding problems to prevent their long-term consequences.
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