A Review of Research on Premature Infant-Mother Interaction

Premature infants do not often provide clear behavioral cues, making them difficult social partners. Mothers of premature infants have reported that interacting with their infant is frustrating and not very rewarding. Higher numbers of premature infants are currently surviving at younger gestational ages, but the number of premature infants that have developmental delays is not decreasing. These infants and their mothers need guidance and support for their early efforts to communicate with one another. Social interactions are considered to be important for many aspects of development. This article will review the literature on infant-mother interactions, explain the more recent findings, and provide recommendations for neonatal nurses working with premature infants and their families.