Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2020 Nov;61(11):1184-1193. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13223. Epub 2020 Mar 10.
Leaving infant to cry it out has been the subject of discussion among researchers and parents. Nevertheless, there is paucity of empirical research investigating the association between leaving infant to cry it out and consequent crying duration and frequency, mother-infant attachment and behavioural development.
The sample with complete longitudinal data comprised 178 infants and their caretakers. Parental use of 'leaving infant to cry out' and cry duration were assessed with maternal report at term, 3, 6 and 18 months, and frequency of crying was assessed at term, 3 and 18 months of age. Attachment was measured at 18 months using the strange situation procedure. Behavioural development of the infant was assessed with two observational measures and a parent-report questionnaire at 18 months.
The use of 'leaving infant to crying' was rare at term and increased over the next 18 months. 'Leaving infants to cry it out' at term was associated with a decrease in crying frequency at 3 months. Furthermore, leaving infants to cry it out a few times at term and often at 3 months was associated with shorter fuss/cry duration at 18 months of age. No adverse impacts of leaving infants to cry it out in the first 6 months on infant-mother attachment and behavioural development at 18 months were found.
Contemporary practice of some parents in the United Kingdom to occasionally or often 'leaving infant to cry it out' during the first 6 months was not associated with adverse behavioural development and attachment at 18 months. Increased use of 'leaving to cry it out' with age may indicate differential responding by parents related to infant self-regulation.
让婴儿哭着入睡一直是研究人员和家长讨论的话题。然而，几乎没有实证研究调查让婴儿哭着入睡与随后的哭泣持续时间和频率、母婴依恋和行为发展之间的关系。
具有完整纵向数据的样本包括 178 名婴儿及其照顾者。在婴儿足月、3、6 和 18 个月时，通过母亲报告评估父母使用“让婴儿哭着入睡”和哭泣持续时间，在婴儿足月、3 和 18 个月时评估哭泣频率。在 18 个月时，使用陌生情境程序测量依恋。在 18 个月时，使用两种观察测量和家长报告问卷评估婴儿的行为发展。
在足月时，“让婴儿哭着入睡”的使用很少，并且在接下来的 18 个月中增加。在足月时让婴儿哭着入睡与 3 个月时哭泣频率的降低有关。此外，在足月时偶尔或经常让婴儿哭着入睡与 18 个月时的哭闹持续时间较短有关。在头 6 个月让婴儿哭着入睡不会对 18 个月时的母婴依恋和行为发展产生不利影响。
英国一些父母在头 6 个月偶尔或经常让婴儿哭着入睡的当代做法与 18 个月时的不良行为发展和依恋无关。随着年龄的增长，“让婴儿哭着入睡”的使用增加可能表明父母对婴儿自我调节的反应不同。
