This document compares the benefits and risks of breastfeeding in light of recent evidence that mothers' milk contains high levels of chemical contaminants. Information is presented on the occurrence and toxicity of agricultural and industrial chemicals found in breast milk and on the lead, industrial chemicals, nitrates, and bacterial…

This document reports the case of 2-year-old girl who demonstrated verbal ability at home but who communicated through nonverbal means in the preschool classroom setting. Baseline data was collected by classroom observation for approximately 32 minutes per day during a 6-day period using an interaction process analysis format. Verbal and nonverbal…

Twenty normal newborns, approximately 36 hours old, were tested using an auditory temporal conditioning paradigm which consisted of a slow rise, 75 db tone played for five seconds every 25 seconds, ten times. Responses to the tones were measured by instantaneous, beat-to-beat heartrate; and the test trial was designated as the 2 1/2-second period…

This research study investigated the hypothesis that noncontingent social stimulation can elicit infant vocal sounds. The investigation involved an examination of both the course of social elicitation and the nature of the social releasing stimulus. Three experimental conditions were designed to measure: (1) the changes in vocalization rate during…

To determine the antecedents of sucking in infants, the behavior of 24 infants from 48- to 60-hours-old was observed in relation to a sucking device. The device measured pressure and rate of sucking and delivered a controlled flow of nutrient. The interfeeding interval was varied among the experimental and control groups. Little sucking behavior…

Twenty-four infants and their preschool-aged siblings were observed in a laboratory playroom in the presence of their parents. Observations took place when the infants were 12 months old and again 6 months later. (JMB)

Mothers of firstborn infants were videotaped playing with a six-month-old infant with sex-appropriate or cross-sex clothes and names. Toy choice and interaction styles varied with the perceived sex of the child. (BD)

Explored potential sex differences in all activity spontaneously emitted by newborns. Subjects were 14 uncircumcised males and 15 females. The pattern or results indicated that even uncircumcised males may be slightly more irritable than females, and thus more active. (Author/JMB)

Interest in babies was studied in 120 young adult males and females belonging to four stages of life: cohabiting singles, childless-married couples, expecting first child, and parents of an infant. Measures included responsivity to an unfamiliar baby, interest in pictures of babies, and a sex-role self-concept inventory. (Author/JMB)

Examined newborns' visual detection of peripheral and central stimuli. (BD)

A case of intrauterine cytomegalovirus infection with onset of autistic symptoms apparently after 6 months of age is reported. (Author)

Emphasizes the need to provide supportive services to new parents. (BD)

Discriminant function analyses suggested that the most efficient predictors and accurate discriminators of continuing infant risk were: the Parmelee obstetric and postnatal complications scores and the Brazelton interactive and motoric process scores at birth; the Denver rating, mother-infant interaction, and Carey temperament ratings at 4 months;…

The effectiveness of the separate auditory and visual components of a combined auditory-visual conjugate reinforcer was assessed in 27 3-month-old infants. (Author/SB)