Behavioral Outcomes of Infants with Persistent Dysregulation of Crying, Sleeping, and Feeding

Children with persistent regulatory problems in infancy were significantly more likely to experience behavioral problems in childhood than children without such symptoms.

Most infants experience transient problems with some combination of crying, sleeping, or feeding. However, as many as 20% of infants experience one or more persistent conditions: crying (beyond the 3-month colic period); nightly challenges with settling to sleep or awakenings; and ongoing feeding issues (usually resistance to nursing, formula, or solid foods). Are regulatory symptoms in early infancy associated with behavioral problems during the preschool years? To find out, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 22 prospective longitudinal studies involving a total of 1935 children with persistent regulatory problems. The mean age at baseline was 5.2 months and the age range at follow-up was 1.3 to 10 years (mean, 4.5 years). All studie…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics