This reflex negatively impacts sucking pressures and results in poor feeding.

[9] Overstimulation may be a contributing factor to infant crying and that periods of active crying might serve the purpose of discharging overstimulation and helping the baby's nervous system regain homeostasis.

This type of cry is characterized by the same temporal sequence as the basic pattern but distinguished by differences in the length of the various phase components.

[12] Misconceptions regarding the purpose of crying in the infant are common among caregivers and medical personnel.

[13][14] The belief that infants have a need to cry to expand or exercise their lungs is not supported by research.

This is because a healthy newborn infant lung's are able to contain a sufficient amount of air plus a reserve.

[22] Consistency and promptness of maternal response is associated with a decline in frequency and duration of crying by the end of the first year, and individual differences in crying reflect the history of maternal responsiveness rather than constitutional differences in infant irritability.

[24] Some possible reasons include:[25][24] Excessive crying in infants may indicate colic or another health problem.

[13] Crying in infants is associated with high stress levels and depression in mothers.

[28][29][1][4] Excessive crying has also been linked to maternal "physical aggression" and "angry speaking."

Mothers without assistance in caring for the infant, are more prone to physical aggression.

Excessive infant crying doubles the risk of behavioral, hyperactivity, and mood problems at the age of 5–6, as reported by their mother.

[1] Several factors may contribute to, and partly explain, an association between excessive infant crying and later behavioral and emotional problems.

During early infancy, the quality of the mother–child dyad can be considered to be a crucial vehicle for child's healthy mental development.