INTERVENTION OF SUPPLEMENTARY CARRYING ON NORMAL BABY CRYING PATTERNS- A RANDOMIZED STUDY

The role of supplementary carrying of infants was studied. Normal babi es were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Infants in the former group were carried by their mothers in a soft ventral b aby sling for at least 2 hours a day. The crying and behavior patterns of individuals in each group were documented in a 24-hour diary at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age. Twenty-two infants were enrolled in the intervention group and 21 in the control group. Little difference was noted between the two; indeed, those carried in the sling appeared to have an increase in the duration of fussiness. Crying behavior mostly occurred between 4 and 8 p.m. each day, with an additional peak betwee n 8 a.m. and noon noted in the control infants. The latter peak disapp eared by 4 weeks of age. Although other benefits may ensue from carryi ng the infant, its use in decreasing crying and fussiness has not been demonstrated.