‘My baby won’t stop crying doctor!’ - This presentation to a GP surgery can make even the more experienced practitioner feel uneasy. The complaint is non-specific with a broad range of differential diagnoses including severe or potentially life-threatening pathologies. Despite this, it is reassuring to know that in most cases, infant crying is not only a benign but also a normal behaviour. This article will discuss how to distinguish normal infant crying from a pathological cause and subsequent management approaches.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AkhnikhSEngelbertsACvan SleuwenBE, et al.(2014) The excessively crying infant: Etiology and treatment. Pediatric Annals43(4): e69–e75. DOI: 10.3928/00904481-20140325-07.
2.
BarrRG (2004) Early infant crying as a behavioural state rather than a signal. Behavioural and Brain Sciences27(4): 460DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X04230102.
3.
BarrRGHopkinsBGreenJA (2000) Crying as a Sign, a Symptom and a Signal: Clinical, Emotional and Developmental Aspects of Infant and Toddler Crying, London: MacKeith Press.
BroughHNatarajaR (2018) Rapid Paediatrics and Child Health, second edition, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
6.
CRYSIS (2020) Support for parents with crying and sleepless babies. Available at: www.cry-sis.org.uk/ (accessed 01 July 2020).
7.
DiasMSSmithKDeGueheryK, et al.(2005) Preventing abusive head trauma among infants and young children: A hospital-based, parent education program. Pediatrics115(4): e470–e477. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2004-1896.
8.
FiocchiABrozekJSchünemannH, et al.(2010) World Allergy Organization (WAO) diagnosis and rationale for action against cow's milk allergy (DRACMA) guidelines. World Allergy Organization Journal3(4): 57–161. DOI: 10.1097/wox.0b013e3181defeb9.
9.
FlomJSichererS (2019) Epidemiology of cow’s milk allergy. Nutrients11(5): 1051DOI: 10.3390/nu11051051.
10.
GP Infant Feeding Network (2017) Cow's milk allergy. Available at: https://gpifn.org.uk/cma (accessed 1 July 2020).
11.
HeineRGJordanBLubitzL, et al.(2006) Clinical predictors of pathological gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants with persistent distress. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health42(3): 134–139. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00812.x.
KempAM (2011) Abusive head trauma: Recognition and the essential investigation. Archives of Disease in Childhood - Education and Practice96(6): 202–208. DOI: 10.1136/adc.2009.170449.
14.
LightdaleJRGremseDA (2013) Gastroesophageal reflux: Management guidance for the pediatrician. Pediatrics131(5): e1684–e1695. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-0421.
15.
LopezRNLembergDA (2019) Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in infancy: A review based on international guidelines. Medical Journal of Australia212(1): 40–44. DOI: 10.5694/mja2.50447.
NICE (2015) Postnatal care up to 8 weeks after birth. Available at: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG37 (accessed 01 July 2020).
20.
NICE (2016) Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in children and young people. Quality standard (QS112). Available at: www.nice.org.uk (accessed 1 July 2020).
Rattray J, Smith S, Jones K, et al. (2019) G83 Icon babies cry, you can cope: Pilot of abusive head trauma prevention campaign in general practice. Archives of Disease in Childhood 104: A34–A35. DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2019-rcpch.82.
RosenRVandenplasYSigendonkM, et al.(2018) Pediatric gastroesophageal reflux clinical practice guidelines. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition66(3): 516–554. DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001889.
27.
RussellR (2015) Recognition, diagnosis, and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children and young people. Gastrointestinal Nursing13(1): 28–34. DOI: 10.12968/gasn.2015.13.1.28.
28.
Unicef (2019) Unicef - The baby friendly initiative. Available at: www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly (accessed 1 July 2020).
29.
VandenplasYAbkariABellaicheM, et al.(2015) Prevalence and health outcomes of functional gastrointestinal symptoms in infants from birth to 12 months of age. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition61(5): 531–537. DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000000949.
30.
WatsonNBadrMBelenkyG, et al.(2015) Joint Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society on the recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult: Methodology and discussion. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine,11(08): 931–952. DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.4950.
