Infants at Risk: Perinatal and Neonatal Factors

Abstract

Studies have been reviewed to indicate that (a) prematurity and other perinatal hazards impose congenital constraints upon the behavior of the young infant, (b) experimental deficits within the earliest days and weeks of life can compound the risk, (c) infants who succumb to crib death (sudden infant death syndrome) have demonstrably more risk factors present in their prenatal and neonatal histories than matched controls, and (d) premature and other high-risk infants can benefit from early stimulation and learning experiences. Present indications are that the interdisciplinary field of infant behavior and development has just recently warmed to its urgent task of more completely documenting the full capabilities of infants, both normal and those at risk, and exploring the interactions of biological and experiential factors. The significance of infancy lies in its importance as a training period for the exercise of sensory capacities and congenital reflexes. The mutual dependence of experience and neurostructural development suggests that infancy is a period of critical learning experiences, from which the young child who traverses the period successfully will emerge capable of defending himself or herself against threats, and able to maximize the pleasures of sensation and of attachment to others.