[Prevalence of parental behaviour to diminish the crying of infants that may lead to abuse].

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of parental actions to stop infant crying that may threaten infant health, and to determine specific risk groups regarding these actions.

DESIGN

Descriptive.

METHOD

Before their visit to a well-baby clinic in the Netherlands, parents of 3345 infants aged 1-6 months (96.5% response) filled out an anonymous questionnaire on actions that they undertook to stop their child crying.

RESULTS

At 6 months, 5.6% (95% confidence interval: 4.2-7.0%) of all the parents reported having smothered, slapped, or shaken their infant at least once because of its crying. The highest risks for detrimental parental actions were run by infants of parents from non-industrialised countries, of parents with no or only a part-time job, and of parents who had judged their infant's crying as excessive.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should be aware of the observed risk factors for abuse of young children known to cry a lot, in order to help parents to cope with this crying.