[Excessive crying in infants: a problem for both parents and children (only rarely caused by milk allergy)].
According to a systematic review published in 1998, hypoallergenic formula can be useful in treating infants who cry excessively. For this reason it is normal practice in the Netherlands to prescribe hypoallergenic formula for these infants. However, two of the three studies on which this systematic review was based were carried out in specialist paediatric allergy centres where there is a higher chance of encountering food allergy than in normal well-baby clinics. The third study was carried out in a well-baby clinic but only included babies who cried for more than 3 hours a day on more than 3 days per week. Experience with crying diaries has shown that by no means all babies who cry excessively according to their parents satisfy these criteria. It is not known if prescribing hypoallergenic formula is a useful intervention in infants whose parents report that they cry excessively. The tension and distress felt by the parents of infants who cry excessively are also important factors. In our opinion, support and guidance for the parents is a more effective treatment for excessive crying in infants than intervention with hypoallergenic formula.
Isala klinieken, locatie Weezenlanden, afd. Kindergeneeskunde, Postbus 10.500, 8000 GM Zwolle.
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D000328:Adult; D003448:Crying / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D007225:Infant Food / Q000009:adverse effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*