The Crying Newborn's Accommodation to the Nipple

Abstract

Hungry newborn infants were observed, and their cry vocalizations and movements were continuously and automatically measured. The baseline rate of crying was determined for each baby. A nipple pacifer was inserted in the mouth of the crying baby for 3-minute periods. Measurements were made of how long he continued to cry and move after the pacifer was inserted (cry and movement after-discharge) and how much time elapsed before he started to cry when the pacifer was withdrawn (cry and movement latency). With increasing experience with the pacifer, the infant showed accomodation to the pacifer by quieting more quickly when it was inserted and crying more quickly when it was withdrawn.