EXCESSIVE INFANT CRYING - A CONTROLLED-STUDY OF MOTHERS HELPING MOTHERS

Objective. To determine the efficacy of behavioral management counseli ng in the treatment of persistent, excessive infant crying (>3 hours p er day). Design. Two treatments, one no treatment control group. Infan ts were group-matched according to baseline fuss/cry levels, sociodemo graphic, and infant variables. Treatments were carried out sequentiall y by the same counselors. Setting. Telephone counseling by volunteers (mothers) of CRY-SIS, a national support group for the parents of cryi ng infants. Patients and interventions. Sequential sample of 27 mother -infant pairs receiving treatment 1 (Tr1, empathy: talking through the problem), 21 receiving treatment 2 (Tr2, behavioral management: speci fic care taking suggestions) and 44 receiving no treatment (C, control s). Infants were between 1 to 5 months of age. Measurements and result s. Mother-infant pairs had a pretreatment baseline assessment and a po sttreatment follow-up (3 months after baseline) using 1-week diaries. Total fuss/cry duration reduced significantly more in the behavioral m anagement group (by 51%) than the empathy group (37%) or the control g roup (35%). This was mainly due to significantly reduced evening fussi ng/crying in Tr2 (67%) compared with Tr1 (45%) and C (42%). No differe nces in total number of fuss/cry bouts/day were found. However, the nu mber of fuss/cry bouts reduced significantly more in the evening in Tr 2 (by 55%) compared with Tr1 (27%) and C (32%). Behavioral management mothers evaluated the same counselors as more sympathetic, knowledgeab le, and understanding. Tr2 was also perceived by mothers to have helpe d them more in reducing the crying problem, coping with the infant, an d improving the relationship with their infant than Tr1. No effects of treatment on infant difficult temperament were found. Conclusions. Be havioral management was more effective in reducing fussing/crying than spending time with the mother talking through the problem or just wai ting for spontaneous remission. Treatment by suitably but briefly trai ned lay counselors is an inexpensive and successful treatment option.