ABSTRACT
"Causes" in the field of infancy are circular in nature. The combined forces of the infant's makeup and of the parents' reactions and fantasies interact with each other in continuous feedback. Workers in the field of pediatrics and early education can profit from the insights of psychological and psychiatric studies. Conversely, workers in the mental health field should profit from knowledge gained in pediatrics and in studies of normal infant development. When dealing with parents and infants, all caregivers—whatever their discipline—need insights from other fields. Ideally, they would work in a team setting, in cooperation with pediatricians, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and psychiatrists. The chapter shows both pediatricians and psychiatrists working with parents and infants. It offers the particular contributions of each profession and of other disciplines in understanding the cases and helping the families.
