Cry-baby 'Link to Behavioural Problems'...British Study

Babies who cry excessively and have problems feeding and sleeping have a greater risk of serious behavioural problems later in life, say scientists.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 review of previous studies looked at nearly 17,000 children. Crying in babies is normal, but some cry "excessively" after the age of three months for reasons other than colic. An international group of researchers looked at this as well as problems eating and sleeping.

By comparing data from 22 studies from 1987 to 2006, they found a link between these issues and problems later in life. There was an increased risk of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), anxiety and depression as well as aggressive behaviour. The research showed that a baby with more than one risk factor was even more likely to develop behavioural problems.

Professor Dieter Wolke, from the University of Warwick, said "It is about a 100% increase in risk, a doubling of risk of behavioural problems with excessive crying, sleeping and eating problems." Jane Valente, a consultant paediatrician at Great Ormond Street Hospital, said: "It would be wrong for people to get overly alarmed. I don't think on the basis of this report people should be rushing to their GPs."

The study cannot tell if issues as a baby cause behavioural problems later in life but they could be an early symptom of those later problems. Professor Wolke said while there were treatments for problem crying, feeding and sleeping in babies, there was no research assessing their impact later in life. He added: "If you could prevent behavioural problems with an early intervention,  it could be very important."