Soothing techniques of mothers in response to infant crying (percentages)
| Soothing technique | Total (n = 1142) | Crying for ⩾ 3 or more hours per 24 hour day (n = 81) | Crying a lot (n = 154) | Inconsolable crying (n = 130) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taking in bed | 60 | 85 | 84 | 75 |
| Holding and carrying | 95 | 100 | 99 | 98 |
| Buggy ride | 14 | 28 | 25 | 21 |
| Car ride | 3 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| Music | 57 | 81 | 75 | 69 |
| Rocking | 58 | 80 | 78 | 74 |
| Pacifier | 84 | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| Bathe | 22 | 38 | 33 | 35 |
| Massage | 43 | 51 | 50 | 50 |
| Herbal tea | 57 | 81 | 75 | 70 |
| Crying it out | 45 | 68 | 65 | 53 |
| Night bottle | 7 | 15 | 13 | 12 |
| Swaddling | 14 | 22 | 21 | 19 |
| Prone sleeping position | 28 | 37 | 41 | 33 |
| Stopping breast feeding | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Admonishing | 24 | 39 | 38 | 35 |
| Smothering | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Shaking | 5 | 6 | 10 | 12 |
| Slapping | 3 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Hypnotics and sedatives | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Painkillers | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Laxatives | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 |