Table 1.

General characteristics of the 10 descriptive studies related to baby behaviours and infant feeding

No	Author (year), country	Infant feeding outcome	Participants (n)	Baby behaviour related to infant decision
1	Kamudoni et al. (2010), Malawi	BF discontinuation	Mothers of infants 0–12 months in urban and rural communities (n = 349), analysis referred to EBF discontinuation before 6 months	Most common reason given for EBF discontinuation: ‘crying’ (66.1% semi‐urban, 59.1% rural)
2	Scott & Colin (2002), Australia	BF discontinuation	Women birthing at metropolitan hospitals (n = 556)	Most common reason for BF discontinuation: ‘unsettled infant’ (at 2 weeks 37.5%, 3–6 weeks 28.6%, 11–14 weeks 24%, 15–18 weeks 21.7%, 19–24 weeks 14.2%)
3	Bulk‐Bunschoten et al. (2001). The Netherlands	BF discontinuation	Newborns 0–4 months at a well‐baby clinic (n = 4438)	Infant‐related reasons for cessation of EBF: ‘crying‐colic’ (19%), perception of a hungry infant (24%)
4	Hernández et al. (1987), Spain	BF discontinuation	Mothers who delivered healthy infants at the General Hospital in Tenerife (n = 135)	BF discontinuation due to ‘excessive crying’: 37% at 1 months, 43.4% at 3 months
5	Bloom et al. (1982), Canada	BF discontinuation	BF mothers who delivered healthy babies at Grace Maternity Hospital, Nova Scotia (n = 249)	‘Crying and night waking’, assumed to indicate hunger that led to BF discontinuation: 37% at 6 weeks, 29% at 3 months, 14% at 6 months
6	Boban & Zakarija‐Grković (2016), Croatia	Introduction of formula	Mother–infant pairs in a Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative university hospital (n = 342)	Most common reason for introducing formula to newborns in‐hospital: ‘crying’ (35.5%)
7	Nevo et al. (2007), Israel	Introduction of formula	Parents of children 6–18 months in a subdistrict of Haifa (n = 135), analysis focused on behaviours when babies were 0–6 months	Introduction of formula due to baby's ‘restlessness’ (26%)
8	Segura‐Millán et al. (1994), Mexico	Self‐reported milk insufficiency	Mothers who delivered a healthy baby and were planning to breastfeed in Hermosillo (n = 165)	‘Crying baby’ as the reason to self‐report milk insufficiency, 64%–86% of mothers
9	Pastore & Nelson (1997), Canada	BF problems	Mothers at a BF community support centre (n = 57)	A ‘crying/fussy baby’ was the reason to visit the clinic for 43% mother with babies < 3 weeks, 47% 3.6 weeks, 40% 7–12 weeks
10	Tracer (2009), Papua New Guinea	BF motivation and confidence	Mother–infant pairs from 6 villages (n = 110)	Among ‘fussy babies’, 58% of the mothers reacted to needs, but only 30% through BF

Abbreviations: BE, breastfeeding; EBF, exclusive breastfeeding.