Search

To investigate the role of early regulatory problems (RP), such as problems in feeding, sleeping, and calming down during later development, the association between parent‐reported RP at 3 months (no‐RP, n = 110; RP, n = 66) and attention to emotional faces at 8 months was studied. Eight‐month‐old infants had a strong tendency to look at faces and to specifically fearful faces, and the individual variance in this tendency was assessed with eye tracking using a face‐distractor paradigm. The early RPs were related to a lower attention bias to fearful faces compared to happy and neutral faces after controlling for temperamental negative affectivity. This suggests that early RPs are related to the processing of emotional information later during infancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this review is to identify the behavioural soothing interventions (BSIs) used for reducing infant crying and to determine their effect. Studies had to describe an experimental study addressing infant crying and BSIs in the first six months after birth. Searches were performed in Web of Science, Pubmed, Science Direct, EBSCOhost, PsycINFO, and COCHRANE. It was determined from the studies that massage, spinal manipulative therapy, and occipito-sacral decompression have a positive effect on the soothing of crying behaviour in infants. It was determined that BSIs are most effective when applied before the 8th week and that certain BSIs are effective in reducing the crying duration. It was revealed that there is a need for a standard data collection tool for the determination of the crying duration. Professionals interested in child health should be aware of irregularities in the crying of infants in the early period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood vaccination is a common procedure and a part of routine medical care during infancy. Although vaccination is the cornerstone for prevention of many infectious diseases, it is associated with significant pain, which is often ignored. Non pharmacological interventions such as breast feeding and kangaroo mother care (KMC) have been used to decrease this procedural pain. However there is paucity of published data on effective use of KMC in term neonates and infants beyond the neonatal age.Method: This randomized controlled trial included 61 infants ≤14 weeks of postnatal age, and compared KMC to swaddling during vaccination. Neonatal infant pain scale (NIPS) was used to assess the pain associated with vaccination.Results: NIPS scores at 1 min and 5 min after vaccination and duration of cry were significantly less in the KMC group.Conclusion: KMC is effective in reducing vaccination associated pain in young infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mother-infant dyadic emotion regulation - the joint modulation of affective rhythms as interactive partners dynamically respond to each other across time - has been shown to promote social-emotional wellbeing both during and beyond infancy. Although contributions of dyadic regulation to self-regulatory development may particularly apparent during infant distress, studies have traditionally examined dyadic regulation in low-stress contexts. The present study addresses this gap by identifying distinct patterns of mother-infant dyadic emotion regulation following a highly distressing immunization procedure and then examining how these groups differed in mother and infant personality and temperament characteristics. Mother-infant dyads (N = 131) were videotaped during a routine immunization procedure, and infant crying and maternal soothing behaviors were subsequently coded. Cluster analysis was applied to trajectories of latent states representing each dyad's post-immunization behaviors. Results indicated five typologies of dyadic regulation following infant immunization. These typologies reflected the effectiveness with which the dyad worked together to soothe infant distress, as well as the specific maternal soothing behaviors employed. Differences in maternal personality and infant temperament among clusters indicated that both mothers and infants contributed to the dynamic regulatory process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in the preterm infant remains contentious. There are numerous options of the PDA management from early targeted treatment, late (symptomatic) treatment to no treatment at all.Aims: To evaluate a three different PDA management approaches in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.Study Design: A retrospective observational time series study of three cohorts of VLBW infants born between 2004 and 2011.Subjects: Infants in Symptomatic Treatment Group (STG) were echocardiographically evaluated when clinical signs suggestive of a PDA were present and treated if a haemodynamically significant PDA was confirmed. Early Targeted Group (ETG) underwent echocardiography within the first 48h and infants received ibuprofen if a large PDA was present. Conservative Treatment Group (CTG) was screened by echocardiography on day seven of life; patients with PDA were managed with increased positive end expiratory pressure and fluid restriction as a first line intervention.Outcomes: The primary outcome was medical and surgical treatment in the three time periods. Secondary outcomes included mortality, severe periventricular and intraventricular haemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome and chronic lung disease.Results: There were 138 infants diagnosed with PDA; 52 infants in STG, 52 infants in ETG and 34 infants in CTG. Ibuprofen therapy and ligation were less frequent in CTG. There was significantly decreased incidence of chronic lung disease in CTG compared to STG (18% vs. 51%; p=0.003) and to ETG (18% vs. 46%; p=0.02). There was no difference in the other short term outcomes.Conclusion: Conservative treatment of persistent ductus arteriosus in VLBW infants is a feasible option and future randomized trials of conservative management are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describing temporal relations between perceptual and emotional elements underlying responses to infant crying is important to our understanding of sensitive parenting. Prior research on adults' responses to infant crying has mostly relied on playback and snapshot approaches to obtaining recall of responses following exposure to relatively short cry stimuli. This study documented continuous temporal relations in the perception of the infant's distress and affect-related processes in response to a 4-min-long bout of crying. Three visual-analog slider scales were used to collect 90 participants' real-time responses on perceived aversiveness of the cry, empathic concern for the infant, and personal distress elicited by the cry, respectively. The results highlighted a moderating role of empathic concern at certain second in the relation between personal distress and empathic concern at the following second. In addition, personal distress moderated the relation between concurrent perceived aversiveness and empathic concern. The findings carry potentially important implications for cognitive and emotional regulation in adaptive parenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have theorized that experiences of emotional warmth in early life influence the development of the soothing system, an affect regulation system thought to underpin individuals' capacity for self-compassion and receiving compassion. The current study tested the theory that feelings of social safeness, also considered an output of the soothing system, might be a key mechanism through which parental warmth and capacities for compassion are linked. One-hundred and fifty-three female college students completed online measures of parental rearing behaviors, social safeness, positive and negative affect, self-compassion, received social support, and fears of compassion. Bootstrapping analyses supported our hypothesized mediational model. Controlling for overprotective and rejecting parenting behaviors, recalled parental warmth was linked to a greater capacity for self-compassion (high self-compassion, low fear of self-compassion) and receiving compassion (high received social support, low fear of receiving compassion) indirectly through affective experiences in general, and feelings of social safeness in particular. These findings suggest that differences in feelings of connectedness, reassurance, and contentment in social relationships might help to explain why children who recall fewer experiences of emotional warmth with parents are less capable and more afraid of self-compassion and receiving compassion. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS is defined as the sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant during sleep which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including the performance of complete autopsy, an examination of the death scene and a review of the clinical history. A descriptive study was undertaken to assess the knowledge and infant care practices among mothers visiting pediatric OPD of Ludhiana Punjab. AIM: To assess the knowledge and infant care practices regarding sudden infant death syndrome among mothers MATERIALS AND METHODS:- Quantitative Descriptive study was undertaken on 100 mothers selected through convenience sampling. Data was collected by interview schedule method through structured questionnaire for knowledge and rating scale for infant care practices which was validated by experts in the field of Nursing and pediatrics. Analysis was done by using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: - The result of study revealed that majority of mothers (74%) were having poor knowledge, (22%) were having below average knowledge and only (4%) had average knowledge regarding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. According to infant care practices more than half of mothers (53%) were having good practices and less than half (47%) were having average practices regarding Sudden infant death syndrome. CONCLUSION:-To reduce the burden of Neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries; there is great need of all the health workers to work hand in hand to educate the women regarding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and to improve the practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 189 infants (93 girls, 96 boys) were investigated longitudinally at ages 4, 8,12,18, and 24 months to examine the effects of soothing techniques (i.e., distracting infants by presenting novel objects) and rough-and-tumble play on the early development of temperament, particularly the emergence of Effortful Control. We used questionnaires to examine the frequency of use of soothing techniques and rough-and-tumble play. The Infant Behavior Questionnaire Revised (IBQ-R) and the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire (ECBQ) were used to assess temperament. A strong relationship was found between parental ratings of their infant's Orienting/Regulation and later Effortful Control. Caregivers' use of distracting as a soothing technique during infancy was associated with higher Negative Affect in toddlers at 24 months. More surgent infants were involved in more rough-and-tumble play, with rough-and-tumble play frequencies positively correlated with surgency scores at 24 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although previous research has examined the relationships between caregiver proximal soothing and infant pain, there is a paucity of work taking infant age into account, despite the steep developmental trajectory that occurs across the infancy period. Moreover, no studies have differentially examined the relationships between caregiver proximal soothing and initial infant pain reactivity and pain regulation. This study examined how much variance in pain reactivity and pain regulation was accounted for by caregiver proximal soothing at 4 routine immunizations (2, 4, 6, and 12months) across the first year of life, controlling for preneedle distress. One latent growth model was replicated at each of the 4 infant ages, using a sample of 760 caregiver–infant dyads followed longitudinally. Controlling for preneedle infant distress, caregiver proximal soothing accounted for little to no variance in infant pain reactivity or regulation at all 4 ages. Preneedle distress and pain reactivity accounted for the largest amount of variance in pain regulation, with this increasing after 2months. It was concluded that within each immunization appointment across the first year of life, earlier infant pain behaviour is a stronger predictor of subsequent infant pain behaviour than caregiver proximal soothing. Given the longer-term benefits that have been demonstrated for proximal soothing during distressing contexts, caregivers are still encouraged to use proximal soothing during infant immunizations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Background: Mother-infant bonding is the earliest and most critical social relationship of mammalian infants. To promote this bond, infants have innate behaviors to seek maternal proximity and protest upon separation via communication with the mother vocally and through body movement. However, the physiological mechanisms regulating these infant behaviors remain largely undefined. Results: Here we show a novel set of infant cooperative responses during maternal carrying. Infants under 6 months of age carried by a walking mother immediately stopped voluntary movement and crying and exhibited a rapid heart rate decrease, compared with holding by a sitting mother. Furthermore, we identified strikingly similar responses in mouse pups as defined by immobility and diminished ultrasonic vocalizations and heart rate. Using pharmacologic and genetic interventions in mouse pups, we identified the upstream and downstream neural systems regulating the calming response. Somatosensory and proprioceptive input signaling are required for induction, and parasympathetic and cerebellar functions mediate cardiac and motor output, respectively. The loss of the calming response hindered maternal rescue of the pups, suggesting a functional significance for the identified calming response. Conclusions: Our study has demonstrated for the first time that the infant calming response to maternal carrying is a coordinated set of central, motor, and cardiac regulations and is a conserved component of mammalian mother-infant interactions. Our findings provide evidence for and have the potential to impact current parenting theory and practice, since unsoothable crying is the major risk factor for child abuse. Video Abstract: Display Omitted [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to explore the parent feeding practice of using food to soothe infant/toddler distress and its relationship to child weight status. Seventy eight families with infants and toddlers (43 males) ranging in age from 3 to 34 months (M =14 mos, SD=9 mos) completed a survey which included questions on their use of food to soothe, questionnaires on parent feeding practices, parenting self-efficacy, child temperament and child''s weight and length at the time of their last well-baby visit. Results revealed the use of food to soothe to be a valid construct. In addition, mothers who used food to soothe rated themselves lower in parenting self-efficacy and their children higher in temperamental negativity. Analyses examining weight status as the outcome variable revealed that mothers who reported the use of food to soothe had heavier children, however, this relationship was stronger for children rated as high in temperamental negativity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The mother-infant bond provides the foundation for the infant's future mental health and adaptation and depends on the provision of species-typical maternal behaviors that are supported by neuroendocrine and motivation-affective neural systems. Animal research has demonstrated that natural variations in patterns of maternal care chart discrete profiles of maternal brain-behavior relationships that uniquely shape the infant's lifetime capacities for stress regulation and social affiliation. Such patterns of maternal care are mediated by the neuropeptide Oxytocin and by stress- and reward-related neural systems. Human studies have similarly shown that maternal synchrony-the coordination of maternal behavior with infant signals-and intrusiveness-the excessive expression of maternal behavior-describe distinct and stable maternal styles that bear long-term consequences for infant well-being. To integrate brain, hormones, and behavior in the study of maternal-infant bonding, we examined the fMRI responses of synchronous vs intrusive mothers to dynamic, ecologically valid infant videos and their correlations with plasma Oxytocin. In all, 23 mothers were videotaped at home interacting with their infants and plasma OT assayed. Sessions were micro-coded for synchrony and intrusiveness. Mothers were scanned while observing several own and standard infant-related vignettes. Synchronous mothers showed greater activations in the left nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and intrusive mothers exhibited higher activations in the right amygdala. Functional connectivity analysis revealed that among synchronous mothers, left NAcc and right amygdala were functionally correlated with emotion modulation, theory-of-mind, and empathy networks. Among intrusive mothers, left NAcc and right amygdala were functionally correlated with pro-action areas. Sorting points into neighborhood (SPIN) analysis demonstrated that in the synchronous group, left NAcc and right amygdala activations showed clearer organization across time, whereas among intrusive mothers, activations of these nuclei exhibited greater cross-time disorganization. Correlations between Oxytocin with left NAcc and right amygdala activations were found only in the synchronous group. Well-adapted parenting appears to be underlay by reward-related motivational mechanisms, temporal organization, and affiliation hormones, whereas anxious parenting is likely mediated by stress-related mechanisms and greater neural disorganization. Assessing the integration of motivation and social networks into unified neural activity that reflects variations in patterns of parental care may prove useful for the study of optimal vs high-risk parenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the example of a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), a painful radiological procedure, this study investigated whether parental soothing behavior (reassuring comments like 'it's almost over' or 'You're O.K.' and soothing by 'sh, sh') in one phase of the procedure influenced the child's distress in the following phase. The sample was comprised of 68 2-8 year-old children and the accompanying parent(s). Child and parental behavior during the VCUG was coded using a standardized rating scale (CAMPIS-R). Parental reassurance during the anticipatory phase significantly increased the child's distress of the following phase, while parental 'sh, sh' significantly reduced it. Both parental behaviors showed no significant effect on the child's distress of the following phase when applied during the procedure itself. Results underline the importance of differentiating between anticipatory and procedural phases of the VCUG. Counselling methods for parents on more appropriate strategies to assist their children during procedural phases of the VCUG are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approaching culture as a set of practices that help cope with problems, I explore the emergence of the "Schnullerfee," a fairy that helps wean children from pacifiers (Br., dummies) in German-speaking areas. I analyze how parents invoke the dummy fairy in order to deal with their own needs and those of their child, especially as they navigate conflicting medical recommendations. Drawing on my ethnographic research on German family culture, and analyzing contemporary medicalization discourses, I consider practical strategies of risk management in childrearing and the question of shifting authorities in family life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the implementation process and effect of a quality-improvement intervention aimed at achieving compliance with the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). We conducted a prospective study of the development and evaluation of a quality-improvement intervention at the Yecla Hospital, Spain. A random sample of 1273 infants born in the hospital was followed up in primary care centres between 1997 and 2005. The study interventions were process-oriented training, audit and feedback, quality-improvement cycles and provision of breastfeeding support resources. The main outcome measures were changes in compliance with the Global Criteria for the BFHI and breastfeeding rates before, during and after the intervention. Compliance with the Global Criteria increased progressively, and in 2004 all criteria were met. The median duration of breastfeeding went up gradually from the start of the intervention. The likelihood of being breastfed at different ages among infants born in 2005 was between 45% [odds ratio (OR) 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38-0.79] and 86% (OR 0.14; 95% CI 0.09-0.20) higher than among infants born in 1997. Quality-improvement interventions based on participation, training, audit and feedback of information, and provision of resources are useful for the implementation of the BFHI, which is associated with a significant increase in breastfeeding rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Methamphetamine (MA) is a drug causing potent psychomotor activation. The aim of the present study was: (1) to assess the effect of prenatal and acute MA administration on behavior in adult male rats and (2) to find out if the prenatal exposure to MA increases sensitivity to acute MA application in adulthood. Behavior of adult male rats prenatally exposed to MA (5mg/kg) or saline was tested in Open field (OF) and Elevated plus maze (EPM). Subcutaneously administered MA (1mg/kg) or saline were used as challenge in adulthood, 30min prior to testing. Our results showed that prenatal MA did not have an effect on baseline behavior in either of the tests. By contrast, acute MA increased overall psychomotor activity by increasing locomotion and exploratory behavior and decreasing comforting behavior. Moreover, adult rats prenatally exposed to MA exhibited increased sniffing and decreased rearing after acute MA dose in adulthood relative to prenatally saline-exposed rats. In addition, while acute MA application decreased anxiety in rats prenatally exposed to MA, rats prenatally exposed to saline were less sensitive to the anxiolytic effects of MA. Our results indicate that changes caused by prenatal exposure to psychostimulants may become apparent as different reactivity to drugs of abuse when an individual encounters them later in life. In addition, we found that the anxiolytic effect of acute MA (1mg/kg) probably depends also on the reactivity to stress and the activity of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: To study the efficacy of Kangaroo mother care (KMC) as compared to conventional care for low birth weight babies. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was done on 114 neonates, delivered at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMCH) Aligarh India (March' 2006 to September' 2007) by vaginal route and weighing =1800 grams at birth -58 neonates received KMC for 6-8 hours/ day in 4-6 sessions while 56 neonates in control group received conventional care (radiant warmers, cots in warm room). Efficacy was measured in terms of effect on growth, physiological parameters, length of hospital stay, morbidity, mortality and exclusive breastfeeding rates. Results: KMC and conventional groups were similar with regard to maternal and birth characteristics. Better weight gain per day (19.3± 3.8 g vs.10.4±4.8 g, p<0.001), significant reduction in respiratory rate (p<0.001), rise in rectal temperature and oxygen saturation (p<0.001), shorter duration of hospital stay (13.7±8.9 days vs. 15.0±10.3 days), lower incidence of nosocomial sepsis (6.9% vs. 23.2% p=0.014) and severe infection (p=0.003) and higher exclusive breastfeeding rates (p<0.01) were seen in infants receiving KMC. No statistically significant difference was seen between the two groups in terms of mortality. Conclusion: Kangaroo mother care results in better weight gain, decreases the risk of serious infections and hypothermia, stabilizes physiological parameters, decreases the hospital stay, promotes breast feeding and has no adverse effect on growth and mortality in LBW babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty-six mothers with infants in an urban hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were asked to rate the importance of having various needs met in five categories: (1) support (the need for interpersonal emotional support); (2) comfort (the need for personal physical comfort); (3) information (the need to obtain realistic information about the infant); (4) proximity (the need to remain near the infant); and (5) assurance (the need to feel confident about the infant's outcome). Overall, mothers viewed needs in the area of assurance as most important and needs in the area of support as least important to have fulfilled. Multiple regression analyses revealed significant predictive relationships between annual household income and mothers' needs in the area of support, and infant length of stay in the NICU and mothers' information needs. The findings from this study can be used by professionals when interacting with families, as well as during the design and implementation of parent support programs in the NICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to determine how mothers soothed their crying infants. A total of 1137 mothers of different cultural backgrounds were approached, 998 agreed to participate in the study, but only 716 completed the questionnaire through a telephone interview. Analysis was restricted to 702 mothers from the UAE nationality, other Arabs, other Muslims, Indians and Philippinos. The questionnaire contained 23 questions on different soothing methods. The most common soothing method was breast-feeding (99.1%), followed by holding and carrying the infant (96.9%), letting infant suck on his thumb or finger (87.3%), herbal tea (65%), night bottle (42.1%) and swaddling infant (19.5%). Over 90% of mothers of all nationalities, preferred not to use pacifiers. Soothing herbs were often used, with the commonest being anise (165 mothers used anise). Fennel tea was also used by a substantial number of mothers (75), with gripe water (64), cumin (33), chamomile (32), mint (22) and fenugreek (16) making up most of the rest. Conclusion: Mothers' ethnicity and nationality strongly impacted on the soothing methods used, with Arabs more often using herbal tea, prone positioning and swaddling to calm infants and illustrate the importance of culture in the upbringing of children from a very early age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent release of new growth charts by the World Health Organization (WHO) heralds a fresh understanding of what constitutes normal infant growth and development. The Multicenter Growth Reference Study that underpins these new growth standards ‘establish[es] breastfed infants as the normative model for growth and development’. This is in contrast to past practice, which treated breastfeeding as the optimal, rather than the normal, way to feed babies. This idealization of breastfeeding has been counterproductive, because it has reinforced a perception that formula feeding is the standard way of feeding babies. It is, therefore, suggested that breastfeeding promotion and education programmes should abandon the ‘breast is best’ message in favour of messages that normalize breastfeeding, and that future research ought to use infants breastfed according to WHO recommendations as the norm reference or control group in every instance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large percentage of British women, in common with women in other Western countries, feed their young babies formula milk. The paper reports some findings of a study of infant feeding that focussed on women's experiences of feeding their babies this way. Data about this issue were collected through detailed, qualitative face to face interviews with 33 mothers and through telephone interviews using a structured questionnaire with 503 mothers. The study found overall that mother's accounts of feeding babies formula milk draw attention to contradictions and tensions in motherhood and mothering. Formula feeding is predominantly experienced by mothers as 'easy,' enabling them to address a wide range of demands and difficulties that mothering a small baby poses for them. At the same time, mothers demonstrate awareness of the socio-cultural construction of the 'moral mother' as the mother who minimizes and avoids risk, and so does not use formula milk for infant feeding. How women react to this tension between 'real life' and 'doing what is healthy' varies, but the study reported here found a large minority of women experience manifestly difficult and debilitating feelings as they attempt to reconcile a pragmatic wish or need to formula feed with dominant constructions of the 'moral mother.' By detailing women's accounts of this aspect of motherhood, the paper contributes to sociological investigation of everyday experiences of risk society. To contextualize this discussion, a brief account of the relationship between eating, feeding babies and risk society is also offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is concerned with the experience of infants who endure long hospitalisations. It explores the concept of the baby as subject: that is, infants as active, psychic participants in their earliest relationships. It explores therapeutic possibilities with hospitalised infants from an infant mental health perspective. It advocates for family therapists to equip themselves for infant-parent therapeutic work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In all languages studied to date, distinct prosodic contours characterize different intention categories of infant-directed (ID) speech. This vocal behavior likely exists universally as a species-typical trait, but little research has examined whether listeners can accurately recognize intentions in ID speech using only vocal cues, without access to semantic information. We recorded native-English-speaking mothers producing four intention categories of utterances (prohibition, approval, comfort, and attention) as both ID and adult-directed (AD) speech, and we then presented the utterances to Shuar adults (South American hunter-horticulturalists). Shuar subjects were able to reliably distinguish ID from AD speech and were able to reliably recognize the intention categories in both types of speech, although performance was significantly better with ID speech. This is the first demonstration that adult listeners in an indigenous, nonindustrialized, and nonliterate culture can accurately infer intentions from both ID speech and AD speech in a language they do not speak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous reports have shown that skin-to-skin care immediately after vaginal birth is the optimal form of care for full-term, healthy infants. Even in cases when the mother is awake and using spinal analgesia, early skin-to-skin contact between her and her newborn directly after cesarean birth might be limited for practical and medical safety reasons. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of skin-to-skin contact on crying and prefeeding behavior in healthy, full-term infants born by elective cesarean birth and cared for skin-to-skin with their fathers versus conventional care in a cot during the first 2 hours after birth. Methods: Twenty-nine father-infant pairs participated in a randomized controlled trial, in which infants were randomized to be either skin-to-skin with their father or next to the father in a cot. Data were collected both by tape-recording crying time for the infants and by naturalistic observations of the infants’ behavioral response, scored every 15 minutes based on the scoring criteria described in the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). Results: The primary finding was the positive impact the fathers’ skin-to-skin contact had on the infants’ crying behavior. The analysis of the tape recordings of infant crying demonstrated that infants in the skin-to-skin group cried less than the infants in the cot group (p < 0.001). The crying of infants in the skin-to-skin group decreased within 15 minutes of being placed skin-to-skin with the father. Analysis of the NBAS-based observation data showed that being cared for on the father’s chest skin-to-skin also had an impact on infant wakefulness. These infants became drowsy within 60 minutes after birth, whereas infants cared for in a cot reached the same stage after 110 minutes. Rooting activity was more frequent in the cot group than in the skin-to-skin group (p < 0.01), as were sucking activities (p ≤ 0.001) and overall duration of wakefulness (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The infants in the skin-to-skin group were comforted, that is, they stopped crying, became calmer, and reached a drowsy state earlier than the infants in the cot group. The father can facilitate the development of the infant’s prefeeding behavior in this important period of the newborn infant’s life and should thus be regarded as the primary caregiver for the infant during the separation of mother and baby. (BIRTH 34:2 June 2007) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been hypothesized that maternal characteristics may affect infants’ experience of pain during stressful medical procedures. Aim: To investigate the role of maternal depressed mood on infants’ response to vaccination, and to determine the effectiveness of different soothing behaviours in reducing infant distress. Methods: Twenty-eight mothers and their healthy, full-term infants participated in a prospective study. At infant age 2 mo, mothers completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and an adapted version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS); at infant age 4.5 mo, mothers were administered the mood scale and were observed with their infants during routine vaccination. Results: Higher levels of maternal depressed mood were predictive of a stronger infant pain response at routine vaccination. Contingencies derived from sequential analyses revealed that the soothing behaviours most effective in reducing infant distress were holding and face-to-face contact, whereas looking at the child from a distance was significantly associated with an increase in infant distress.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that interventions to reduce infant pain during stressful medical procedures may include early detection and referral for maternal postpartum depression as well as the promotion of soothing behaviours involving close physical and emotional contact between mother and baby. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent estimates of Shaken Baby Syndrome awareness suggest that approximately half of all American adults have not heard of the often devastating risks of shaking an infant. Using a sample of 288 undergraduate students, we developed a measure of attitudes around infant care practices. A total of 264 community participants completed a revised survey. Between-group comparisons, exploratory factor analyses, and internal consistency tests were employed to determine the directionality and reliability of any scale structure present in the data. A five factor structure fits the data reliably, and each of these factors seems to represent a unique dimension. Implications for using this measure clinically and preventatively are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To analyse behavioural characteristics of infants who cried more versus those who cried less, in a sample of low-risk premature infants. Methods: Participants were 63 low-risk healthy premature infants. At term age, the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) was administered, and a 1-d diary for crying was recorded starting on the following day. Infants were categorized into two groups: those with “high level of crying” (&nvge;75th percentile) and those with “less crying” (<75th percentile), based on the total amount of crying time. Results: Some individual NBAS scores and “habituation” and “regulation of state” cluster scores were lower in the high-level-of-crying group. Infants in the group with a high level of crying had lower thresholds for response in the “peak of excitement”, “rapidity of build-up”, “irritability” and “general irritability” items. Logistic regression analysis revealed that lower “habituation” and “regulation of state” cluster scores were significantly associated with lower thresholds for crying.Conclusion: These results suggest that neonatal behavioural characteristics, such as hyperresponsivity and poor state regulation, are associated with high levels of crying. Clinical assessments based on the NBAS may help parents elucidate their infant's level of tolerance for stimuli, and identify strategies to minimize their crying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calming distressed infants is a topic of interest to all who provide care to the very young. The stress literature has indicated that both stress reactivity and regulation are of interest in examining stress. A review of literature was conducted to examine indicators of infant stress, correlates of infant stress, and methods of soothing distressed infants. Current research has provided an increasing ability to determine whether infants are experiencing stress, as indicators are not always obvious. Furthermore, observing infants while they are experiencing stress provides insights into individual differences with regard to stress reactivity and regulation at the earliest of ages. Such information provides insight to providing methods and effectiveness of soothing practices. Implications for parents and practitioners are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes a case of traumatized twin boys and presents a discussion of the maltreatment of multiples. The twins were admitted for evaluation of recurrent bleeding of infralingual laceration. Due to the suspicious nature of the children's injuries, nonaccidental trauma was suspected and a skeletal survey, head computed tomography scan, and bone scan were obtained for both infants. Results show that both twins obtained rib fractures. It was found that the father admitted to forcefully thrusting his finger into their mouths in a desperate effort to quiet them. He also eventually admitted to holding them firmly around the chest and shaking them on several occasions.

Abstract: The relation between maternal soothing and infant stress response during inoculation was examined in a sample of 37 mothers and their 3-month-old infants. The mothers’ soothing and the infants’ cry vocalizations and the mothers’ and the infants’ salivary cortisol level pre- and post-injection were analysed. There was a positive relation between infants’ cry vocalization post-injection and maternal soothing pre- and post-injection. The sample was divided in two sub-groups depending on whether the mothers evidenced most soothing of the infants in the period before (Preparatory group; n =20) or after (Contingent group; n =17) the syringe injection. In the Preparatory group, the duration of infant cry vocalizations was related to amount of maternal soothing before and after the injection, while cry vocalizations in the Contingent group was related to amount of maternal soothing after the injection. The Contingent infants responded to the injection with a significant increase in cortisol, while there was no increase in the Preparatory infants. The Preparatory infants evidenced significantly longer duration of looking at the target stimuli in a visual marking task, suggesting greater difficulties in disengaging attention. These findings indicate that 3-month-olds’ stress responses and their mothers’ situational behaviour are mutually regulated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article informs that a major nursing challenge in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is supporting parents in the intensive, technology-driven environment by merging physiologic care of the infant with maternal interventions to enhance parent-infant interactions of touch and communication. This challenge forms the basis for the nursing intervention of kangaroo or skin-to-skin holding in the NICU. Over the last 10 years, kangaroo holding is increasingly being adopted as part of nursing practice in nurseries across the United States. Research suggests that kangaroo holding promotes maternal-infant attachment through feelings of closeness, builds maternal confidence, improves breastfeeding success and may be a stress-reducing experience for both the mother and infant.

Maintaining the health of a newborn's skin is an essential part of infant care and the choice of nappies and hygienic nappy-care plays an important role in achieving this. The critical care points where compromise can occur are identified as the time the Infant spends in a wet nappy, leading to mechanical, chemical and microbial trauma, the cleansing routine of the skin at nappy change time, the steps taken to preserve the skin's own defence mechanisms, and control of infection through avoiding contamination of clothes, bedding and carers by soil and urine. There are factors common to infant care in both home and hospital although it is recognised there are added risks when many Infants are cared for together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conducted in the home environment, this study examines the effects of three complementary soothing techniques on the duration of infant crying and on caregiver–infant interaction. In one group, the caregivers apply massage; in another, they provide supplemental carrying to their infants, and in the last, the caregivers both massage and provide supplemental carrying. Measurements, for the one control and three treatment groups took place prenatally (third trimester) and in the first 16 weeks postpartum for parental perception of infant temperament, parental sense of competence, parent–infant interaction, and the duration of infant crying. Whereas analyses indicate no statistically significant differences between groups in reducing infant crying, results approached significance (p ≤ .06) in favor of the combined supplemental carrying/massage group. These results challenge accepted beliefs that tactile stimulation and/or supplemental carrying enhance parental sense of competence, positive parental perceptions, and interactions with infants. Practitioners can apply these conclusions when counselling parents on the advisability of selecting any one complementary soothing technique. ©2002 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an infant–parent therapy technique that involves the videotaping of the sessions, with subsequent reviewing and discussion with the mother. The technique has been designed as a part of psychodynamic therapeutic work with infant–parent dyads. It is based on a concept of the centrality of maternal past and current experience and associated representations in the pathogenesis of the relational pathology. Videotape replay provides an accelerated access to early maternal memories and promotes enlightening awareness of the links between maternal past experience and present behaviors with her child, which can lead to insight and therapeutic change. The technique advances the development of the therapeutic alliance and thus facilitates successful use of other dyadic treatment modalities that can be used along with psychodynamic therapy. It lessens maternal feelings of being criticized by a therapist and, therefore, can be helpful when the maternal ability to develop a trusting relationship with a therapist is of particular concern. Pertinent theoretical and practical issues are discussed. The method is illustrated by excerpts from therapeutic work with a six-month-old boy and his mother. © 2000 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-four newborns (M age = 12 days) of depressed and nondepressed mothers were assessed for oral perception of a nubby and smooth texture. Both groups of newborns discriminated between these textures and showed a sucking preference for the smooth texture. However, the newborns of depressed mothers spent 50% less time orally exploring the stimuli, one-third less time exploring the more novel nubby texture, and 59% less time mouthing the smooth texture. Newborns of depressed mothers may have biological differences that affect their emotional arousal and emotional regulation (e.g., capacity for self-soothing). © 2000 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT. To examine the effectiveness of new parents at soothing their infants, the authors filmed primiparae (20 mothers, 20 fathers) and, for comparison, multiparae (25 mothers, 25 fathers) during an interaction with their crying 2-to 3-day-old infants. Data were derived from loudness ratings of the infants' distress signals and by measuring the time it took parents to quiet their infants. In addition, specific parental behaviors were coded by microanalysis. From these data, measures of soothing effectiveness and behavioral profiles were derived. Data analyses showed that most primiparae were effective at soothing their infants' cries and that there were no parity effects on measures of soothing effectiveness. However, mothers, regardless of parity, were more effective at quieting their infants than were fathers, and there were significant differences in mothers' and fathers' caregiving behaviors. These data suggest that primiparae are effective at quickly soothing their newborns and that their skill, as measured, does not depend on parenting experience. Moreover, the data point to significant differences in mothers' and fathers' competence at quieting their newborns whether or not they are experienced at parenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of maternal soothing to infant inoculation as well as everyday distress on infant cortisol and behavioral responses to stress was examined in two longitudinal samples of 55 and 74 infants, respectively, between 2 and 6 months of age. There was no evidence that maternal soothing was effective in reducing infants' cortisol or behavioral responses to stress. The absence of this relation occurred despite evidence for cross-time stability and cross-situation consistency in maternal soothing. That maternal soothing plays little role in lowering infant responses to stress leaves open the possibilities that other maternal behaviors may mediate children's distress or that infant temperament may be related to infant stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine empathy-related and personal correlates of children's comforting reactions. Quantity and quality of third to sixth graders comforting of a crying infant were assessed and their relations with situational and dispositional empathy-related responding, shyness, and vagal tone were examined. Quantity and quality of boys comforting were related to reports of sympathetic/empathic responding to an empathy-inducing film, whereas quantity of girls' comforting was associated with low facial and heart rate markers of vicarious distress in another context. Quality of comforting was associated with markers of girls' vicarious distress. Comforting was negatively related to younger children's shyness and marginally, positive correlated with girls' vagal tone. Suppression of vagal tone was associated with quantity of comforting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a discussion of the issue of infant day care as a risk condition for later developmental problems. It focuses on the appropriateness of using a risk factor conceptualization for describing research on infant day care and on important research questions that have largely been ignored in recent discussions of the effects of infant day care experience on development, A number of criteria for assigning risk factor status to associational findings are discussed, and it is suggested that this approach does not seem justified with regard to the current research on infant day care. Several studies that have examined infants' actual experiences in day care settings and compared these to home-reared infants' experiences are discussed as an example of important research that broadens our approach to understanding this complex issue. It is suggested that the discussion of research in this area return to the traditional terminology of associational findings rather than the narrow conceptualization of risk conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT. Photographs of men and women holding infants were analyzed for side of holding. Of the photographs of women, a significant majority (63%) showed left-side holding, consistent with previous reports. In contrast to these same reports, however. men also showed a left-side preference and by the same margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of tummy time in infants. It notes that the development of positional brachycephaly is an indication that parents may not be providing their infants with adequate tummy time. Infants who experience no periods of consistent tummy time become very distressed when placed in prone position, and their parents readily agree that their infant has never tolerated being on this/her stomach. The best management is to institute regular periods of tummy time from early infancy while the infant is awake and under direct observation.

The author talks about playing music to premature infants in neonatal intensive care and its effect on their brain function, and discusses a study related to it. Topics discussed include the soothing of infants because of the music; the use of electroencephalograph (EEG) to monitor the infants; and the neurodevelopment of premature infants.

This article presents information regarding maternal child nursing. Maternal tactile contact with the infant has been studied, until fairly recently, primarily in terms of the significance of contact for the infant. Through the experiences of being held and touched an. infant first learns of his mother's love for him and develops a sense of confidence and trust in the response of a supportive external environment to his needs. There has been little investigation of the significance of maternal contact with the infant for neo-maternal development. The taking-on of maternal responsibilities ties in relation to a given infant can be accomplished only through interaction with that infant.

Comments on studies which focused on the management of the febrile infant. Assumptions on the dialogue about the management of febrile infants; Problem with studies that addressed issues on febrile infants.