Babies who cry “excessively” are more likely to develop behavioural problems, say scientists
Babies who persistently cry and have problems feeding and sleeping have a greater risk of behavioural problems later in life, claim scientists.One in five babies has symptoms that could lead to conditions like ADHD, according to the research published in Archives of Disease in Childhood.But an expert from Great Ormond Street Hospital spoke out to reassure parents."It would be wrong for people to get overly alarmed. I don't think on the basis of this report people should be going to their GPs," Jane Valente, a consultant paediatrician at the hospital, told the BBC."If a baby is not behaving like other babies, it is probably worth discussing with a midwife or health visitor."Crying in babies is normal, but some cry "excessively" after the age of 3 months for reasons other than colic.The researchers looked at this, as well as problems eating and sleeping, and compared data from earlier studies that looked at nearly 17,000 children.The study also found that around 20% of parents had concerns about their baby’s crying, sleeping, or feeding patterns.
