Infant and Toddler Crying: To Soothe or Not to Soothe?
Josh Thompson Lydia Leeds
Texas Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference October 9, 2004
A survey of knowledge about Infant & Toddler Crying
1. At what age does crying peak? A. 4 weeks B. 6 weeks C. 16 weeks D. 24 weeks
A survey of knowledge about Infant & Toddler Crying
2. How much time per day does the normal 3 month old spend crying? A. 15 minutes B. 30 minutes C. one hour D. three hours
A survey of knowledge about Infant & Toddler Crying
3. At what time of day do infants cry the most? A. morning (6am – 12pm) B. afternoon (12pm – 6pm) C. evening (6pm-12am) D. late night (12am-6am)
A survey of knowledge about Infant & Toddler Crying
4. At what age is crying related to language development? A. 15 months B. 18 months C. 24 months D. 36 months
A survey of knowledge about Infant & Toddler Crying
5. Choose the best phrase to complete this sentence: “Picking up a three-month-old
every time she cries …
… … … …
A. B. C. D.
is likely to spoil a child.” teaches the child to be demanding.” reduces frequency of crying.” teaches the child to trust.”
1. At what age does crying peak?
2. How much time per day does the normal 3 month old spend crying? 3. At what time of day do infants cry the most? 4. At what age is crying related to language development? 5. Rate the following behavior "Picking up a three-month-old every time she cries“
D. teaches the child to trust B. 18 months C. evening (6pm-12am) B. 6 weeks
C. One hour
The Normal Crying Curve
4
Time (Hours)
3 2 1 0 0 2 4 6 Age (Weeks) 8 10 12
The Nature of Crying
“[N]eonatal crying is a species-specific behavior which achieves its likely evolutionary function (infant survival) by reliably eliciting responses from caregivers.” (Gustafson 1990 p.45)
The Nature of Crying
Three primary functions: Sign Symptom Signal
The Nature of Crying
Sign
Neurological organization
– Normal – Natural – Cyclical patterns
The Nature of Crying
Symptom
of disequilibrium of state of being
This shift is common, predictable, and independent of caretaker.
The Nature of Crying
“Temperament is innate: It’s not a product of the environment, your responses, nor of your child’s attempts to elicit some response from you.” (McKay (1996) When Anger Hurts Your Kids p. 38)
The Nature of Crying
Crying is a
colic Signal that something is not okay
hunger
pain discomfort boredom distress
Back to the Curve
4
Time (Hours)
3 2 1 0 0 2 4 6 Age (Weeks) 8 10 12
Off the curve
Colic – Rule of 3
A three month old infant “… who, otherwise healthy and well-fed, had paroxysms of irritability, fussing, or crying for a total of three hours a day and occurring on more than three days in any one week” (Wessel, et al, 1950) for
more than three weeks.
Off the curve
Trauma – physical or emotional, which has resulted in prolonged disequilibrium
Off the curve
Disability – neurological disruptions, chronic pain, or genetic abnormalities
Observation & Assessment
Observer/participant Become fluent in the “language” of crying Competent secure care
Observation & Assessment
Sign – note: it’s a good thing
Neurological organization
Observation & Assessment
Symptom – not personal, it just is, a
state of being Disequilibrium
Observation & Assessment
Crying is a
colic Signal that something is not okay
hunger
pain discomfort boredom distress
Observation
FATT
Frequency Age of the child Time of day
Tone
DRIP
Duration Rhythm Intensity
Pitch
Goodness of fit
Soothing strategies
Assisted self-soothing Caregiver assisted soothing Unassisted self-soothing
Soothing strategies
Assisted Self-soothing
Pacifiers Swing Blankets Music Teddy bears
Soothing strategies
Caregiver Assisted soothing
Holding Swaddling Infant massage Singing (to)
Soothing strategies
Unassisted self-soothing
Thumb-sucking Rocking Self-stroking Humming
Toddler Strategies
Describe Distract Disengage
Caregiver coping strategies
(Brazelton, 2003, pp 19-20)
1. ID the cry 2. Try the obvious 3. Speak softly, bring the pitch and volume down 4. Hold his arms and body to avoid startles 5. Swaddle him
Caregiver coping strategies
(Brazelton, 2003, pp 19-20)
6. Pick him up to cuddle 7. Try massaging his back and limbs gently 8. Sing to him 9. Walk with him 10. Use white noise or motion 11. Use a “football hold.”
Caregiver coping strategies
Caregiver self check: Excessive exposure to crying may tip the motivation from a concern with the infant’s distress to a desire to alleviate your own discomfort in listening to the cry.
Caregiver coping strategies
Competent secure care – walk away
Questions & MORE Questions
When is it appropriate to soothe a crying child? When do we let them cry it out?
Lydia Leeds MA SNLLeeds@yahoo.com Josh Thompson PhD Assistant Professor Early Childhood Ed Texas A&M University-Commerce Josh_Thompson@TAMU-Commerce.edu
Presentation Website: Faculty.TAMU-Commerce.edu/ JThompson/Resources/InfantCry.htm