Interaction during feeding sessions between preterm infants and their mothers and that between full-term infants and their mothers were compared. (Mothers and babies were from a low-income, inner-city population.) When the children were about 3 years old, they attended a day camp for 3 weeks, during which their cognitive ability (Stanford-Binet) and social ability (both social competence and social participation) were assessed. Early interaction was quite different for preterms and full-terms, but in general it did not predict either social or cognitive ability at age 3. Birth status (preterm/full-term) did predict cognitive (but not social) ability: preterms scored lower. Finally, the children of mothers who were more emotionally and verbally responsive during a home visit at 20 months exhibited more social and cognitive ability at age 3. These results suggest that the baby, within broad normal limits, may be "buffered" against any long-term consequences of interaction during the first few months of life.

This study examined whether preterm infants are more vulnerable to the effects of prenatal drug exposure than are full-term infants. The sample of 235 low-income African American mothers and their infants included 119 cocaine-polydrug users, 19 alcohol-only users, and 97 nonusers; 148 infants were full term and 87 were preterm. Direct effects of exposure on birth weight, birth length, ponderal index, and irritability were moderated by length of gestation: Fetal growth deficits were more extreme in later-born infants, whereas increases in irritability were more extreme in earlier born infants. Effects of exposure on cardiorespiratory reactivity to a neonatal exam were not moderated by length of gestation. In general, effects of exposure occurred for both cocaine-polydrug and alcohol only users and so could not be unambiguously attributed to either of these drugs alone.

Effects of prenatal cocaine exposure and parental versus nonparental care on outcome at 2 years of age were examined. The sample included 83 cocaine-exposed and 63 nonexposed children and their caregivers; 49 and 34 of the cocaine-exposed children experienced parental and nonparental care, respectively. Prenatal drug exposure was not related directly to children's outcome at 2 years of age. However, compared with cocaine-exposed children in parental care, those in nonparental care experienced a more optimal environment and performed better in several developmental domains at 2 years of age in spite of being at greater neonatal risk. Further analyses suggested that this protective effect of nonparental care was in part due to nonkin rather than kin care.

Interaction during feeding sessions between preterm infants and their mothers and that between full-term infants and their mothers were compared. (Mothers and babies were from a low-income, inner-city population.) When the children were about 3 years old, they attended a day camp for 3 weeks, during which their cognitive ability (Stanford-Binet) and social ability (both social competence and social participation) were assessed. Early interaction was quite different for preterms and full-terms, but in general it did not predict either social or cognitive ability at age 3. Birth status (preterm/full-term) did predict cognitive (but not social) ability: preterms scored lower. Finally, the children of mothers who were more emotionally and verbally responsive during a home visit at 20 months exhibited more social and cognitive ability at age 3. These results suggest that the baby, within broad normal limits, may be "buffered" against any long-term consequences of interaction during the first few months of life.

This home-based asthma education program was most effective with younger children; perhaps their caregivers were more motivated to learn about asthma management. Targeting psychosocial factors associated with asthma morbidity might also enhance the efficacy of asthma education for these families.