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Behaviour/development

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Original poster

Has anybody seen the article on BBC news about crying?

18 replies

2gorgeousgirls · 21/04/2011 07:40

There is an article today on BBC news where they have analysed different studies and concluded that excessive crying after 3 months is more likely to lead to behavioural problems such as ADHD later in life.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13141753

What does this mean for those who use controlled crying?

OP posts:

mouseanon · 21/04/2011 07:48

I think I read a different article. It didn't say anything about babies left to cry. It's talking about babies who fry a lot generally, that it may be a sign of something wrong. Nothing to do with controlled crying at all.

I should point out that I've never done cc. I'm not a fan of it so I'm not being defensive here. I'm lucky I've been blessed with good sleepers so far though. I'd never rule anything out altogether.

mouseanon · 21/04/2011 07:49

Cry a lot not fry a lot! Stupid phone.

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 21/04/2011 07:49

"What does this mean for those who use controlled crying?"
not a great deal. the study is referring to babies who exhibit excessive post colic crying, not referring to tired babies who are allowed to cry at sleep times to self-settle.

mrsravelstein · 21/04/2011 07:51

mouse is right, it doesn't say excessive crying 'leads' to other problems, it says it can be an indicator of other problems. (i'm not a fan of cc either, though)

EllenJane1 · 21/04/2011 12:18

I used controlled crying for my DS 1 after I couldn't get my PFB to sleep without staying with him for hours! It was hell for the first night, 10 mins the second, and no crying the third. Couldn't see a problem with that!

It's a bit different to train a child to get to sleep alone and to ignore a child's distress for reasons of neglect or poor parenting IMO. That was what the article seemed to be implying. However in my experience, children who go on to have developmental issues can be impossible to comfort, despite lots of effort. Nothing to do with parental skill.

ShatnersBassoon · 21/04/2011 12:21

It says excessive crying could a symptom of some problems, not that crying can cause damage.

TeddyMcardle · 21/04/2011 12:26

Oh no :( ds cried a lot for the first 9 months, first I was told colic then reflux and finally he was prescribed movicol and the daily screaming stopped. He was never left to cry but he would scream in my arms.
Someone told me the other day that babies who's mothers had pre eclampsia are more likely to suffer depression. Christ I'm sick of hearing this kind of thing.

EllenJane1 · 21/04/2011 12:29

It was this quote that seemed to imply parenting.

"If you could prevent behavioural problems with an early intervention, in a public health-sense it could be very important."

headfairy · 21/04/2011 12:31

regardless of what that article is about (I can't quite understand what it's about) teddy I think some research on the effects of excessive crying and CC seem to show that if a parent is in the room (doesn't even have to be holding the baby) that the possibly harmful effects of excessive crying are mitigated

So if your ds cried lots but was either in your arms or you were soothing him in another way then I'm sure that's supposed to be much better than just leaving him alone unattended and crying. I think that's what some psychologists think causes problems later in life.

EllenJane1 · 21/04/2011 12:37

Teddy Sounds more like your poor DS had some tummy pain which caused him to cry. Nothing like a child who cries for no reason. I wouldn't worry.

tabulahrasa · 21/04/2011 15:01

I think that's a very badly written article...I would read the results of that study very differently - children with ADHD are more likely to cry excessively as babies, rather than crying can lead to ADHD

blueshoes · 21/04/2011 15:41

The article and the link to the underlying study says that there is some correlation between excessive crying and conditions like ADHD, not that crying causes ADHD.

However, this sentence taken from the article goes against the grain and is in fact wrong: "One in five babies has symptoms that could lead to conditions such as ADHD, according to research published in Archives of Disease in Childhood."

The words lead to should be replaced with indicate. Poor writing.

MadameSin · 21/04/2011 18:26

My ds cried for first 6 weeks non-stop, but was very compliant and easy going after that ... hardly ever cried and still doesn't. I didn't do CC and was always there with him ... he's got ADHD What am I to make of it all ????

Noop · 21/04/2011 19:17

I heard on the grapevine that the latest research indicated leaving baby to cry was bad (increased stress hormones or something) but I'd like to see it for myself. Does anyone know who did the research/where I can find info about it?

MadameSin · 21/04/2011 22:32

Noop Professor Dieter Wolke, from the University of Warwick

Noop · 21/04/2011 23:05

Thanks Madame

mewkins · 22/04/2011 08:13

I'm not convinced by this. For a start there is no real definition of what excessive crying is! surely it's very subjective....

matana · 22/04/2011 10:44

FFS! Our 5 and a half month old DS is very loved, showered with kisses and cuddles and opportunities to learn and grow by his whole family at every opportunity. He's healthy, happy, always clean and cared for. I worry if i don't spend enough time 'interacting' with him each day. In the early weeks and months i absolutely responded to his crying immediately and if he's poorly, dirty or hungry i still do. But i know him well enough now to know when i should and shouldn't leave him alone because he's just tired and needs to sleep. I never leave him to scream, but it's not always possible to respond to him immediately when he cries - and that's without any other children to attend to. There are plenty of people with two or more children who sometimes just have to leave their babies to cry for a bit because it's not possible to see to them immediately. Clearly a baby who is routinely left to scream and scream every single day will learn that nobody cares. A baby who is responded to fairly quickly 9 times out of 10 will be a secure and independent little person.

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