Strategies for Managing and Comforting Infant Crying in Early Intervention Programs

Abstract

Prolonged, frequent, or intense crying, particularly when soothing is ineffective, can be detrimental both to the baby and to the persons who provide care. Because handicapped babies may cry more frequently than their nonhandicapped age-peers and in different ways, there is a strong need to develop strategies for dealing with crying in early intervention settings. This paper reviews the literature on the crying of handicapped babies, describes environmental considerations, techniques for providing comfort, and observational and data-collection techniques, and makes suggestions for coping strategies for caregivers.