This experiment examines extended learning over a 4-day period in infants exposed to responsive and unresponsive wooden mobiles. Frequency of kicks and attention to the mobile increased over the first three days and was found to vary with the introduction of a novel mobile on day four. (GO)

A review of the literature dealing with the effects of stimulative intervention on premature infants. (BRT)

Selected vocal and gestural imitation items were presented to twenty-four 8-, 14- and 20-month-old boys and girls in an elicited task situation. Both vocal and gestural imitation increased with age, although for each age group there was significantly more gestural than vocal imitation. (BD)

Disputes claims concerning the association between strange-situation behavior around 12-20 months of age and subsequent child performance. Maintains studies have precluded causal inferences about the direction and nature of effects, finding associations only when the quality of care received was stable, thus, precluding inferences about the…

Families of full-term (N=17) and preterm (N=17) infants were followed throughout the first year of life to examine amount of (and relationship between) reported stress and support services received. Among results was that stress at three months was significantly negatively related to concurrent measures of formal support. (Author/JW)

Using the Ainsworth Strange Situation Procedure, a study examined the interrelations between dimensions of emotion and social interactive behaviors to explore the regulatory role of each in mother-infant interaction and how these roles may change in the second year. (HOD)

Studied the sleep state organization and EEG patterns at term date in 53 preterm infants as an index of the maturity and integrity of neurophysiological organization that may have implications for their later development. (HOD)

The Carolina Record of Infant Behavior was used to assess the stability from 3 months to 1 year of such characteristics as activity level, irritability, and social responsiveness in 39 preterm infants at risk for developmental disorders. The most stability was observed on such developmentally based items as social orientation. (Author/JW)

Study of children aged 21 to 31 months tentatively concludes: (1)behavioral tendency to be inhibited or uninhibited with unfamiliar people or during unfamiliar events is moderately stable across time and context; and (2)moderately negative relationship exists between behavioral inhibition and heart rate variability, and positive relationship…

Combinatorial abilities in language and elicited symbolic play were compared in a longitudinal study of 30 children at 20 and 28 months. In addition, multivariate analyses were used to assess the stability of individual differences. Generally, different symbolic play variables contributed unique explained variance to different language variables.…

Incidence of self-scratching injuries were examined in 300 newborns divided into subject groups based on birth weight, gestational age, Apgar score, mode of delivery, and the presence or absence of delivery complications. Injuries were attributed to normal neonatal movements; degree of injuries may reflect the maturity and physical activity of the…

The benefits of infant intervention programs depend on their appropriateness to the characteristics of the baby, the environment, and the transactions between them. For healthy, normal infants, intervention will be superfluous at best. A basic prerequisite for designing any intervention program is an understanding of the fundamental importance of…

Contending that developmental disability is defined by cognitive and affective performance as well as hazardous biological events, the authors consider multiple factors as cumulative in placing an infant at risk for future developmental disability. A risk scoring system based on biological and behavioral factors in an additive manner is presented.…

This two-volume reference presents the latest findings on the mental, emotional, and physical life of the human infant. The entries present thorough and current assessments of infancy issues as well as brief definitions and descriptions of scientific, technological, and psychological terms. Coverage includes discussion of the critical issues,…

In order to prevent the occurrence and spread of disease in California child care programs, this set of laminated procedure pages, in English and Spanish versions, details infant and child care procedures for safe diapering. The document delineates important rules about diapering, gives directions for making a disinfecting solution, and provides…