Background Psychosocial stress during the COVID-19 pandemic is increasing particularly in parents. Although being specifically vulnerable to negative environmental exposures, research on psychosocial stress factors in infants’ and toddlers’ families during the pandemic is so far sparse. The CoronabaBY study investigates the perceived pandemic burden, parenting stress and parent and child mental health problems in families with children aged 0–3 years in Bavaria, Southern Germany. Further, the relationships between these psychosocial stressors are examined and sociodemographic characteristics that may be predictive of these factors will be explored. Methods Participants were cross-sectionally surveyed via smartphone app. Standardized questionnaires on perceived pandemic burden, parenting stress, parental symptoms of depression and anxiety, infants’ crying, sleeping and feeding problems or toddlers’ emotional and behavioral problems were applied. Results N = 991 parents (Mage = 33.7 years, SD = 4.5; 93.7% mothers, 91.5% born in Germany) with infants (n = 554; Mage = 5.9 months, SD = 3.0) or toddlers (n = 435; Mage = 25.9 months, SD = 6.5) participated in the first half-year of 2021. Sixty-five percent of the parents perceived a high pandemic burden, 37.7% experienced parenting stress and 24.1% showed affective symptoms (anxiety: 30.1%, depression: 18.5%). Feeding problems, crying/ sleeping problems and multiple regulatory problems were found in 34.8%, 26.2% and 13.5% of the infants, respectively. Amongst toddlers, 8.5% showed noticeable behavior and emotional problems. Children`s mental health problems correlated moderately with parenting stress and parental affective symptoms and weakly with perceived pandemic burden. A lower financial status, higher parental education and increasing child age were significant but weak predictors for higher parenting stress, affective symptoms and higher psychological problems in children. Conclusions A majority of the surveyed families with infants and toddlers experience the pandemic as stressful. The main challenges are parental affective symptoms and limited resources for childcare due to parenting stress. Overall, infants and toddlers show similar levels of mental health problems when being compared to pre-pandemic studies, but staggered detrimental effects on children`s mental health might occur if the stressful conditions persist. This is already indicated by correlations between parental and child psychosocial stress factors.

Background Families with young children are particularly vulnerable for the stressors induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, studies on their psychosocial situation during the course of the crisis are still sparse. Methods In a comparison of three survey waves (wave I and III = high COVID-19 incidences), we cross-sectionally investigated the proportion of families (Ntotal = 2940) with children aged 0–3 years experiencing pandemic burden, parenting stress, and parental and child mental health problems in relation to COVID-19 incidences and restrictions in Southern Germany via validated questionnaires. Potential influencing factors were also explored. Results The number of parents with a high pandemic burden decreased over the course of the pandemic with a peak of 65.3% in wave I (significant changes except wave II versus III). Participants with high parenting stress significantly increased from 38.2% in wave I to 51.2% in wave III. The number of parents with symptoms of depression and anxiety remained constantly high with a maximum of 28.4% being affected. Infants with crying/sleeping problems increased significantly from 26.4% in wave I to 35.5% in wave III. Toddlers’ emotional and behavioral problems showed a peak of 23.9% in wave III (no significant changes). Increased family conflicts were the strongest predictor for parenting stress (ß = 0.355), maternal (ß = 0.305), infants’ (ß = 0.149) and toddlers’ (ß = 0.216) mental health problems during the pandemic. Conclusions Psychosocial stress factors in families with infants and toddlers remained highly pronounced and even partly increased irrespective of pandemic events. The findings suggest a staggered negative impact of pandemic-related factors on young children’s mental health. Promoting infants’ mental health as well as strengthening parental resources by reducing parenting stress should be a top healthcare priority in the aftermath of COVID-19. Trial registration The study was pre-registered in OSF (https://osf.io/search/?q=tksh5&page=1)

Background: Families with young children are particularly vulnerable for the stressors induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, studies on their psychosocial situation during the course of the crisis are still sparse.Methods: In a comparison of three survey waves (wave I and III = high incidences), we cross-sectionally investigated the proportion of families (Ntotal = 2,940) with children aged 0-3 years experiencing pandemic burden, parenting stress, and parental and child mental health problems in relation to COVID-19 incidences and restrictions in Southern Germany. Potential influencing factors were also explored.Results: The number of parents with a high pandemic burden decreased from 65.3% to 57.3% in wave II and rose to 62.2% in wave III (significant changes except wave II vs. III). Participants with high parenting stress increased from 38.2% to 46.1% and 51.2% (all significant changes). The number of mothers with affective symptoms remained constant with a maximum of 28.3%. The proportion of affected fathers decreased from 25.4% in wave I to 14.3% in wave II and rose significantly to 28.4% in wave III. Infants with crying sleeping problems increased significantly from 26.4% in wave I to 35.5% in wave III. Toddlers’ emotional and behavioral problems showed a similar trend with 23.9% being affected in wave III (no significant changes after adjusting for child age and gender). Increased family conflicts during the pandemic were the strongest predictor for parenting stress (ß = .355), maternal (ß= .305), infants’ (ß= .149) and toddlers’ (ß= .216) mental health problems.Conclusions: Psychosocial stress factors in families with infants and toddlers remained highly pronounced and even partly increased irrespective of pandemic events. The ongoing heightened support needs of families with young children must remain a focus and promoting infants' mental health as well as strengthening a positive family microclimate should be a top priority in the aftermath of COVID-19.Trial registration: The study was pre-registered in OSF (https://osf.io/search/?q=tksh5&page=1).Keywords: Parent Psychosocial Functioning, Infant Mental Health, COVID-19, Depression, Anxiety, Early Life Adversity, Infancy and Early Childhood, Parenting, Stress, Pandemic

Objective: The CoronabaBY study investigates the perceived pandemic burden, parenting stress, child and parent mental health problems as well as the utilization of psychosocial support measures in families with children between 0-3 years.Methods: Participants were recruited and surveyed via smartphone app for this cross-sectional study. Standardized questionnaires on perceived pandemic burden, parenting stress, parental symptoms of depression and anxiety, children`s regulatory or emotional and behavioral problems and utilization of early childhood intervention services were applied. Results: N = 991 parents (Mage = 33.7 years, 94% mothers, 92% German nationals) with infants (n = 554, Mage = 5.9 months) or toddlers (n = 435, Mage = 25.9 months) participated in the first half-year of 2021. 65% of the parents perceived a high pandemic burden, approx. 40% experienced elevated parenting stress and 24% showed symptoms of depression/anxiety. Infants and toddlers did not show increased mental health problems. 71% (62%) of the stressed (strongly stressed) parents were aware of early childhood intervention services, 36% (55%) were using them in the past and 5% (13%) at the time being.Conclusions: Families with infants and toddlers experience the pandemic as highly stressful. The main challenges are increased parental affective symptoms and limited resources for childcare due to parenting stress. Staggered detrimental effects on children`s mental health might occur if the stressful conditions persist. Accessibility to early childhood intervention services should be a top priority for policy makers.