Infant and Toddler Crying: Infant and Toddler Crying: To Soothe or Not to To Soothe or Not to

Soothe?Soothe?

Josh ThompsonJosh Thompson

Lydia Leeds Lydia Leeds

Texas Association for the Texas Association for the Education of Young ChildrenEducation of Young Children

Annual ConferenceAnnual Conference

October 9, 2004October 9, 2004

A survey of knowledge A survey of knowledge about Infant & Toddler about Infant & Toddler CryingCrying1. At what age does crying peak? 1. At what age does crying peak?

A.A. 4 weeks4 weeks

B.B. 6 weeks6 weeks

C.C. 16 weeks 16 weeks

D.D. 24 weeks24 weeks

A survey of knowledge A survey of knowledge about Infant & Toddler about Infant & Toddler CryingCrying2. How much time per day does the 2. How much time per day does the

normal 3 month old spend crying? normal 3 month old spend crying?

A.A. 15 minutes15 minutes

B.B. 30 minutes 30 minutes

C.C. one hourone hour

D.D. three hours three hours

A survey of knowledge A survey of knowledge about Infant & Toddler about Infant & Toddler CryingCrying3. At what time of day do infants cry 3. At what time of day do infants cry

the most? the most?

A.A. morning (6am – 12pm)morning (6am – 12pm)

B.B. afternoon (12pm – 6pm)afternoon (12pm – 6pm)

C.C. evening (6pm-12am)evening (6pm-12am)

D.D. late night (12am-6am) late night (12am-6am)

A survey of knowledge A survey of knowledge about Infant & Toddler about Infant & Toddler CryingCrying4. At what age is crying related to 4. At what age is crying related to

language development? language development?

A.A. 15 months15 months

B.B. 18 months18 months

C.C. 24 months24 months

D.D. 36 months 36 months

A survey of knowledge A survey of knowledge about Infant & Toddler about Infant & Toddler CryingCrying5. Choose the best phrase to complete 5. Choose the best phrase to complete

this sentence: “this sentence: “Picking up a three-Picking up a three-month-old every time she cries … month-old every time she cries …

A.A. … … is likely to spoil a child.”is likely to spoil a child.”

B.B. … … teaches the child to be teaches the child to be demanding.”demanding.”

C.C. … … reduces frequency of crying.” reduces frequency of crying.”

D.D. … … teaches the child to trust.” teaches the child to trust.”

1. At what age does crying peak? 1. At what age does crying peak?

B. 6 weeksB. 6 weeks2. How much time per day does the normal 2. How much time per day does the normal

3 month old spend crying? 3 month old spend crying? C. One hourC. One hour

3. At what time of day do infants cry the 3. At what time of day do infants cry the most? most?

C. evening (6pm-12am)C. evening (6pm-12am)4. At what age is crying related to language 4. At what age is crying related to language

development? development? B. 18 monthsB. 18 months

5. Rate the following behavior 5. Rate the following behavior "Picking up a "Picking up a three-month-old every time she criesthree-month-old every time she cries“ “

D. teaches the child to trustD. teaches the child to trust

0

1

2

3

4

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Age (Weeks)

Tim

e (H

ours

)The Normal Crying Curve The Normal Crying Curve

The Nature of Crying The Nature of Crying

““[N]eonatal crying is a species-[N]eonatal crying is a species-specific behavior which achieves specific behavior which achieves its likely evolutionary function its likely evolutionary function (infant survival) by reliably (infant survival) by reliably eliciting responses from eliciting responses from caregivers.” (Gustafson 1990 caregivers.” (Gustafson 1990 p.45) p.45)

The Nature of CryingThe Nature of Crying

Three primary functions:Three primary functions:

Sign Sign

SymptomSymptom

SignalSignal

The Nature of CryingThe Nature of Crying

SignSign Neurological organizationNeurological organization

– NormalNormal– NaturalNatural– Cyclical patternsCyclical patterns

The Nature of Crying The Nature of Crying

SymptomSymptom of disequilibriumof disequilibrium

of state of being of state of being

This shift is common, predictable, This shift is common, predictable, and independent of caretaker.and independent of caretaker.

The Nature of CryingThe Nature of Crying

““Temperament is innate: It’s not a Temperament is innate: It’s not a product of the environment, your product of the environment, your responses, nor of your child’s responses, nor of your child’s attempts to elicit some response attempts to elicit some response from you.” (McKay (1996) When from you.” (McKay (1996) When Anger Hurts Your Kids p. 38) Anger Hurts Your Kids p. 38)

The Nature of CryingThe Nature of Crying

Crying is a Crying is a SignalSignal that something is not that something is not okayokay

pain

hungercolic

discomfort

boredomdistress

0

1

2

3

4

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Age (Weeks)

Tim

e (H

ours

)Back to the Curve Back to the Curve

Off the curveOff the curve

Colic – Rule of 3 Colic – Rule of 3 A three month old infant “… who, A three month old infant “… who,

otherwise healthy and well-fed, had otherwise healthy and well-fed, had paroxysms of irritability, fussing, or paroxysms of irritability, fussing, or crying for a total of three hours a day crying for a total of three hours a day and occurring on more than three and occurring on more than three days in any one week” (Wessel, et al, days in any one week” (Wessel, et al, 1950)1950) for more than three weeks. for more than three weeks.

Off the curveOff the curve

Trauma – physical or Trauma – physical or emotional, which has emotional, which has resulted in prolonged resulted in prolonged disequilibrium disequilibrium

Off the curveOff the curve

Disability – neurological Disability – neurological disruptions, chronic pain, disruptions, chronic pain, or genetic abnormalitiesor genetic abnormalities

Observation & AssessmentObservation & Assessment

Observer/participantObserver/participant

Become fluent in the “language” of Become fluent in the “language” of crying crying

Competent secure care Competent secure care

Observation & Assessment Observation & Assessment

SignSign – note: it’s a good thing – note: it’s a good thing

Neurological organization Neurological organization

Observation & Assessment Observation & Assessment

SymptomSymptom – not personal, it just is, – not personal, it just is, a state of being a state of being

Disequilibrium Disequilibrium

Observation & AssessmentObservation & Assessment

Crying is a Crying is a SignalSignal that something is not that something is not okayokay

pain

hungercolic

discomfort

boredomdistress

Observation Observation

FATTFATT DRIPDRIPFrequencyFrequency DurationDuration

Age of the childAge of the child RhythmRhythm

Time of dayTime of day IntensityIntensity

ToneTone PitchPitch

Goodness of fit Goodness of fit

Soothing strategiesSoothing strategies

Assisted self-soothingAssisted self-soothing

Caregiver assisted Caregiver assisted soothingsoothing

Unassisted self-soothingUnassisted self-soothing

Soothing strategiesSoothing strategies

Assisted Self-soothingAssisted Self-soothingPacifiers Pacifiers

SwingSwing

BlanketsBlankets

MusicMusic

Teddy bears Teddy bears

Soothing strategiesSoothing strategies

Caregiver Assisted soothingCaregiver Assisted soothing

Holding Holding

SwaddlingSwaddling

Infant massageInfant massage

Singing (to)Singing (to)

Soothing strategiesSoothing strategies

Unassisted self-soothing Unassisted self-soothing Thumb-suckingThumb-sucking

RockingRocking

Self-strokingSelf-stroking

HummingHumming

Toddler StrategiesToddler Strategies

DescribeDescribe

Distract Distract

DisengageDisengage

Caregiver coping strategiesCaregiver coping strategies (Brazelton, 2003, pp 19-20)(Brazelton, 2003, pp 19-20)

1.1. ID the cry ID the cry

2.2. Try the obvious Try the obvious

3.3. Speak softly, bring the pitch and Speak softly, bring the pitch and volume down volume down

4.4. Hold his arms and body to avoid Hold his arms and body to avoid startles startles

5.5. Swaddle him Swaddle him

Caregiver coping strategiesCaregiver coping strategies

(Brazelton, 2003, pp 19-20)(Brazelton, 2003, pp 19-20) 6.6. Pick him up to cuddle Pick him up to cuddle

7.7. Try massaging his back and limbs Try massaging his back and limbs gently gently

8.8. Sing to him Sing to him

9.9. Walk with him Walk with him

10.10. Use white noise or motion Use white noise or motion

11.11. Use a “football hold.” Use a “football hold.”

Caregiver coping strategiesCaregiver coping strategies

Caregiver self check: Caregiver self check:

Excessive exposure to crying may tip the Excessive exposure to crying may tip the motivation from a concern with the motivation from a concern with the infant’s distress to a desire to alleviate infant’s distress to a desire to alleviate your own discomfort in listening to the your own discomfort in listening to the cry. cry.

Caregiver coping strategiesCaregiver coping strategies

Competent secure Competent secure care – walk away care – walk away

Questions & MORE Questions & MORE Questions Questions

When is it appropriate to soothe a When is it appropriate to soothe a crying child?crying child?

When do we let them cry it out? When do we let them cry it out?

Lydia Leeds MA Lydia Leeds MA

SNLLeeds@yahoo.com SNLLeeds@yahoo.com

Josh Thompson PhDJosh Thompson PhD

Assistant Professor Early Childhood EdAssistant Professor Early Childhood Ed

Texas A&M University-Commerce Texas A&M University-Commerce 

Josh_Thompson@TAMU-Commerce.edu Josh_Thompson@TAMU-Commerce.edu

Presentation Website: Presentation Website:

Faculty.TAMU-Commerce.edu/ Faculty.TAMU-Commerce.edu/ JThompson/Resources/InfantCry.htm JThompson/Resources/InfantCry.htm