Effects of Brazelton demonstrations on early interactions of preterm infants and their teenage mothers

Brazelton demonstrations and MABI assessments were provided for lower class teenage mothers of preterm infants during the neonatal period. Another group received the Mother's Assessment of the Behavior of her Infant (MABI) scale alone. The effects of these interventions were evaluated at one month by Brazelton and mother-infant feeding and face-to-face interactions. Both the Brazelton demonstration/MABI group and the MABI group showed more optimal Brazelton interactive process scores, feeding and face-to-face interaction ratings at one month than did preterm and term infant control groups. However, a greater number of effects were observed for the Brazelton demonstration/MABI group.