Infantile Colic-Related Symptoms and Maternal Feeding Attitudes in Infants Aged 7–12 Months: Associations with Sensory Processing Characteristics in a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Infantile colic is primarily recognized as an early-infancy condition, yet early regulatory difficulties may be associated with sensory processing and feeding-related characteristics later in infancy. This study examined associations among colic-related symptom scores, sensory processing characteristics, and maternal attitudes toward breastfeeding versus formula feeding in infants aged 7–12 months with a documented history of infantile colic. Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study included 100 infants aged 7–12 months with a clinically documented colic diagnosis in the first 4 months of life meeting Wessel’s criteria. The Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile-2 (ITSP-2), Infant Colic Scale (ICS), and Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) were administered. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and two multiple linear regression models. Results: IIFAS scores were inversely correlated with ICS scores (r = −0.708, p < 0.001). ICS scores correlated most strongly with General Processing (r = 0.804), Low Registration (r = 0.749), Sensitivity (r = 0.737), and Seeking (r = 0.719; all p < 0.001). In regression analyses, ICS scores were independently associated with IIFAS score (β = −0.291), General Processing (β = 0.567), Sensation Avoiding (β = −0.146), and Auditory Processing (β = −0.125) (R2 = 0.728, adjusted R2 = 0.716), while IIFAS scores were independently associated with ICS score (β = −0.427) and Low Registration (β = −0.376) (R2 = 0.564, adjusted R2 = 0.555; all p < 0.05). Conclusions: In infants with a history of colic, sensory processing characteristics were associated with current colic-related symptom scores and maternal feeding attitudes and may warrant consideration in clinical evaluation. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the temporal and causal nature of these associations.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Children, 2026 · DOI ↗