Mothers' Perceptions of Problems of Feeding and Crying Behaviors

During early infancy, problems of crying, colic, spitting, and feeding difficulties often provoke anxiety and lack of self-confidence in parents. We studied prospectively what proportion of mothers felt that their infants had problems of this type and determined risk factors for perceived problems identified in the early postnatal period. The mothers of 189 breast-fed and 184 formula-fed infants completed questionnaires post partum and responded to a follow-up interview at four months. Thirty-five percent of mothers in each group reported that their infants had moderate or severe problems of feeding or crying behavior. Risk factors for perceived problems were identified using stepwise logistic regression analyses. Inquiry about, and early attention to, risk factors may alleviate the parents' concerns and possibly affect the development of these problems.