In this article I evaluate recent attempts to illuminate the human infant cry from an evolutionary perspective. Infants are born into an uncertain parenting environment, which can range from indulgent care of offspring to infanticide. Infant cries are in large part adaptations that maintain proximity to and elicit care from caregivers. Although there is not strong evidence for acoustically dist...

To cite: Magalhães M, Costa D, Brites A, et al. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2015211212 DESCRIPTION A 6-day-old newborn girl from an unremarkable pregnancy and vaginal delivery was observed for the first time by her primary care physician presenting facial asymmetry when crying. Physical and neurological examination showed facial asymmetry noted...

We assessed risk groups for excessive infant crying using 10 published definitions, in 3179 children aged 1-6 months (response: 96.5%). Risk groups regarding parental employment, living area, lifestyle, and obstetric history varied by definition. This may explain the existence of conflicting evidence on the occurrence and cause of excessive crying.