Mothers' and Fathers' Interactions with their Preterm Infants During the Initial Period at Home

The relations of 38 Israeli mothers and fathers with their preterm infants during the initial period at home were examined in three 30-min periods of observations, and by self-report parental perception of their infants as being difficult. Mothers in both groups were found to engage more in caregiving and holding than fathers. Fathers of preterm infants, however, were more involved in caregiving and holding than were fathers of fullterm infants. Fathers in both groups surpassed mothers in playing and stimulating, but mothers and fathers of preterm infants played with and stimulated their infants more than did parents of fullterm infants. Parents of preterm infants also perceived their infants as being more difficult than did parents of fullterm infants. Infant characteristics, namely birth weight and medical complications, as well as parental education were found to be significant variables underlying parental variations within the group of preterm infants, but not the duration of the hospital stay or parental ethnic origin.