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Infant and Toddler Crying, Sleeping and Feeding Problems and Trajectories of Dysregulated Behavior Across Childhood

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Abstract

Infant and toddler regulatory problems (RPs) including crying, sleeping and feeding, are a frequent concern for parents and have been associated with negative behavioral outcomes in early and middle childhood. Uncertain is whether infant and toddler RPs predict stable, trait-like dysregulated behavior across childhood. We addressed this gap in the literature using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). RPs at 6, 15–18, & 24–30 months and childhood dysregulated behavior at 4, 7, 8, & 9.5 years were assessed using mother report. Latent Class Growth Analysis (LCGA) indicated that trajectories of childhood dysregulated behavior were stable over time. All single RPs (i.e., crying, sleeping & feeding problems) were significantly associated with childhood dysregulated behavior. For example, crying problems at 6 months after controlling for confounders (Odds Ratios; 95 % Confidence Intervals): Moderate dysregulated behavior: OR = 1.50, 95 % CI [1.09 to 2.06], high dysregulated behavior: OR = 2.13, 95 % CI [1.49 to 3.05] and very high dysregulated behavior: OR = 2.85, 95 % CI [1.64 to 4.94]. Multiple RPs were especially strongly associated with dysregulated behavior. For example, the RP composite at 15–18 months: 1 RP, very high dysregulated behavior: OR = 2.79, 95 % CI [2.17 to 3.57], 2 RPs, very high dysregulated behavior: OR = 3.46, 95 % CI [2.38 to 5.01], 3 RPs, very high dysregulated behavior: OR = 12.57, 95 % CI [6.38 to 24.74]. These findings suggest that RPs in infants and toddlers predict stable dysregulated behavior trajectories across childhood. Interventions for early RPs could help prevent the development of chronic, highly dysregulated behavior.

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Acknowledgments

We are extremely grateful to all the families who took part in this study, the midwives for their help in recruiting them, and the whole ALSPAC team, which included interviewers, computer and laboratory technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers, managers, receptionists and nurses. We give special thanks to Andrea Waylen and Jeremy Horwood who helped in the conduct of the study. This article is the work of all the authors. C.W and D.W serve as guarantors for the content of the article. The UK Medical Research Council (grant no. 74882), the Wellcome Trust (grant no. 076467) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC.

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Winsper, C., Wolke, D. Infant and Toddler Crying, Sleeping and Feeding Problems and Trajectories of Dysregulated Behavior Across Childhood. J Abnorm Child Psychol 42, 831–843 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-013-9813-1

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