Fussy Baby Survey Results

The Fussy Baby Site recently conducted an online survey to find out what parents of fussy or colicky babies really go through on a day to day basis. Having had an extremely fussy baby myself, even I was surprised by some of the findings.
In our survey of 100 parents,

• 70% found the emotional aspect of having a fussy baby more difficult than the practical or physical aspects.
• 69% parents have never left their fussy baby with a non-family member.
• 55% have suffered some degree of depression due to having a fussy baby.
• 52% of fussy babies have been officially diagnosed with ‘colic’ (46% with acid reflux, and 27% with a milk protein allergy).
• 50% have been unhappy with the care they have received from their baby’s pediatrician or family doctor.

The most surprising finding for me, personally, was the reluctance of parents to leave their fussy baby with a non-family member.

When asked why they feel this reluctance, some of the responses included:

‘I don’t want someone to get angry at him and lose it.’

‘[They] couldn’t handle him.’

‘I don’t trust them.’

‘[I’m] afraid.’

‘Felt too guilty/ashamed to put someone not related through the crying.’

‘I feel as though he would have been too much for someone who didn’t love him.’

‘…I’m afraid that someone who doesn’t know him and love him might get pushed to the point where they might hurt him.’

‘I don’t think they could handle it…I worry somewhat they might shake/hurt him.’

When asked to comment on why the emotional impact of having a fussy baby was more difficult than the practical or physical aspect, some of the responses included:

‘Other parents not understanding your situation and also passing judgement.’

‘Fear of [the] future.’

‘Feeling helpless when he cries.’

‘Not being able to comfort him no matter what I do.’

‘Hopelessness.’

Parents who suffered with depression because of having a fussy baby said,

‘Sometimes it can be overwhelming and lonely. People try to make you feel like it’s the child gaining control.’

‘No clinical depression, but had some very, very low moments.’

When asked why parents were unhappy with the care they were receiving from their family doctor or pediatrican, some of the responses included:

‘They just couldn’t give any answers.’

‘They just don’t understand.’

‘The doctor said…he’s just a sensitive, fussy baby.’

‘Our doctor told us to ‘sing to her’…completely did not get it’.

‘Wish I, as a new mom who really went through the ringer the first 3 months, got a bit of…sympathy…’

‘Was always being told ‘she will grow out of it’.

The results of the survey emphasized, for me, the need for:

• Physicians to exhibit more empathy and compassion towards parents of fussy or colicky babies.
• Pediatricians and family physicians to be equipped with research based information to give to parents; For instance the Period of Purple Crying pamphlets.
• Physicians to make parents aware of the resources available to support them, such as the Fussy Baby Warmline, the Period of Purple Crying program and The Fussy Baby Site.