The article discusses the need to serve handicapped infants (from birth to age 3) and their families. The needs of such children and their families are reviewed. The state of the American family itself is examined, and is said to be disintegrating. (DLS)

A sample of ten abused toddlers ranging in age from one to three years and ten matched controls from families experiencing stress were observed during social interactions with caregivers and with peers in their day care settings. (JMB)

Studies family interaction and explores the interface of husband-wife and parent-infant interactions. Results suggest that wives have a greater influence on fathering than do husbands on mothering. In some families spousal interaction precludes active involvement in parenting. In others active parental involvement provides for pleasurable spousal…

This investigation assessed the psychological effects of an experimentally conducted day care program on Chinese and Caucasian children from 3.5 to 29 months. Data from the last two assessments, at 20 and 29 months, revealed little difference between the day care and home control children in cognitive functioning, language, attachment, separation…

Two problems that illustrate the importance of timing in human behavior are discussed. The major problem relates to timing in motor skill performance and acquisition. The second problem concerns the child's adaptation to his social milieu. (Author/JH)

This article discusses the health problems of many American mothers and babies, examines some of the causes of poor health, and emphasizes the need for society to recognize the importance of this national issue. (YRJ)

Reports on the phonological form of one child's productive vocabulary from age 0;10 to 1;8 with primary focus on his production of multisyllabic targets. Findings indicate that there is a developmental and perhaps maturational limitation in the capacity to carry out the processes underlying word and sentence production. (33 references) (Author/CK)

Maintains that it is important to distinguish theory testing from effect-size evaluation when considering the impact of mothering on attachment security. Contends that it is possible that the De Wolff and van IJzendoorn meta-analysis both over- and underestimates mothering effects, as would be the case if infants varied in their susceptibility to…

Two independent surveys (in 1988 and 1991) evaluated the stress experienced by parents (total N=108) of infants with Down Syndrome compared with that experienced by other parents. Pooled data indicated significantly greater depression for the study parents. However, effect sizes were small, suggesting that parenting an infant with Down Syndrome…

Examines time child is in child care, who gives it, the congruence of actual care and preferred care, and other factors that affect the marital satisfaction and emotional well-being of parents of infants. Found that father child care, when preferred, has positive effect on mother emotional well-being. (MT)

Child care centers representing four auspices (non profit, local for profit, national chain for profit, and church sponsored) were examined for associations between quality and social outcomes. Non profits had higher social outcomes, teacher child interaction produced no difference, and higher work-family interference was associated with lower…

The MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory (a parent-report measure of vocabulary and syntax) was administered to 103 children (mean age 103 months) who participated in a study of temporal resolution as infants. Children who had performed above the median on the temporal resolution task demonstrated better later language development than…

Interviews with 36 mothers of premature infants concerning their perceptions of their infants' care 1 and 7 months after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) found that mothers received information on their baby's health and routine care but did not receive information about developmental issues or such topics as transfer of…

Investigated effects of depressed mothers' touching on their infants' behavior during still-face situation. Subjects were 48 mothers and their 3-month-old infants. Findings suggested that by providing touch stimulation for their infants, depressed mothers can increase infants' positive affect and compensate for negative effects often resulting…