Does placing a slice of cheese on an infant's head alleviate crying?

There are no official guidelines to assist in answering this question. I will search for relevant research papers instead.

From the Research

Infant Crying and Potential Remedies

• There is no evidence to suggest that placing a slice of cheese on an infant's head alleviates crying 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
• Research has focused on understanding the causes of infant crying and its potential link to abusive head trauma (AHT) 1, 2, 3.
• Studies have explored the effectiveness of various interventions, such as educating parents about normal infant crying and its evolution over the first few months of life 1, 2.
• Other interventions, like promoting regularity in daily infant care and reducing external stimuli, have been developed to support parents whose infant cries excessively 5.
• The use of swaddling during sleep has also been investigated as a potential remedy for excessive crying 5.
• However, none of the existing research addresses the specific question of using cheese as a remedy for infant crying.

Abusive Head Trauma and Infant Crying

• Infant crying is a common trigger for abusive head trauma (AHT) 1, 2, 3.
• Research has suggested a strong causal link between infant crying and AHT, with parents, particularly fathers and father figures, identified as the most common perpetrators of AHT 1.
• Prevention programs have primarily focused on universal parent education during the neonatal period to reduce the incidence of AHT 1.

Existing Research on Infant Crying

• Excessive crying, often described as infantile colic, is a common cause of early pediatrician visits for infants aged 2 weeks to 3 months 4.
• Underlying organic causes are found in less than 5% of cases, and treatment typically consists of helping parents manage the crying and reduce stress 4.