ABSTRACT
The birth of an infant is both a landmark moment in family development and the initiation of a remarkable responsibility. Born with an immature nervous system that will take years to become fully integrated, the infant has a limited capacity to express even basic needs in a way that adults can understand. Infants must rely completely on caregivers to understand their needs for nourishment and physical comfort. For their part, adults must use overt signs of the infant’s state, such as crying, calm, or sleep, to determine when to intervene and when to let well enough alone.
