An Intervention to Decrease Infant Crying

A Randomized, Controlled Trial to Decrease Infant Crying

This is a study looking at the Happiest Baby on the Block technique. The investigators hypothesized that infants of mothers given a 30 minute videotape demonstrating the Happiest Baby on the Block technique would fuss/cry less and sleep longer than infants of mothers given a 30 minute videotape on general newborn care. The investigators also hypothesized that mothers given the Happiest Baby on the Block videotape would have lower levels of stress.

Mothers recorded their babies fussing, crying and sleeping on paper diaries when their infants were 1, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks old.

Inclusion Criteria:

Mothers of singleton newborns

• 37 to 41 week gestation
• healthy (no ICU admission)

Exclusion Criteria:

• not able to view videotape at home
• not able to speak English