Mental health articles
OF mental health care and mentally ill
August, 2016
Failure to thrive (FTT)
FTT describes infants whose rate of physical growth is declining, or is already below the 5th centile (Casey, 1999). Although there are various further refinements in the definition of FTT, the cause is malnutrition. Non-organic FTT (NOFT) refers to infants for whom there is no identified medical explanation for poor weight gain. Population-based studies of […]
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Physical disorders
Physical disorders Feeding difficulties are frequently associated with neurological, respiratory, cardiac and gastrointestinal conditions, and with anatomical anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract. Neurological conditions affecting arousal, muscle tone and primitive reflex expression can adversely affect the motor control necessary for appropriate oro-motor function, and for swallowing that does not place the infant at risk of […]
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Significance of oral experience for development
Significance of oral experience for development Developmentally, hand-to-mouth activity gives the infant strategies for selfsoothing and practising self-regulation, and opportunities for the tactile exploration of objects by mouthing them (Field, 1999). Dowling (1977) studied the development of a small group of infants with oesophageal atresia (OA)—a condition, apparent at birth, in which the oesophagus is […]
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Infant–parent relationship influences on feeding
Infant–parent relationship influences on feeding Feeding behaviours are a reflection of the blending of a number of intricately interrelated physical, maturational and interpersonal factors. The substantially automatic responses of the newborn to root and suckle and to engage in handto-mouth activity begin a learning process that culminates in self-feeding. The first year of life is […]
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Infant devlopmental guidance in the first year
Infant devlopmental guidance in the first year Newborn Wrapping, snuggling in mother’s arms, ‘wearing’ in a sling or patting may assist transition from REM to NREM sleep. A degree of maturity is needed before an infant can develop self-comforting means (such as sucking hands) to assist frequent transitions between REM and NREM sleep. One month […]
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Infant developmental guidance
Developmental guidance Supporting parents in the early weeks and months of their infant’s life with education and guidance may prevent or solve some sleep onset and night-waking problems. Clinicians may be able to assist parents to enable their babies to develop their own self-regulatory capacities around going to sleep by: • giving information about the […]
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Assessing the caregiving environment
Assessing the caregiving environment Factors in the caregiving environment that may influence sleep patterns include: • stress, including the accumulative impact of maternal sleep deprivation • availability of social supports for caregivers • lack of attunement to infant caused by disability, drug and alcohol abuse, or lack of time • difficulties for infant and parent […]
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Developmental assessment
Developmental assessment On some occasions, in particular with a toddler or older child, and depending on the observations and the history given by the parents, a developmental assessment may be required to detect any developmental issues affecting sleep. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development (Bayley, 1993) and the Griffiths Mental Development Scales (Griffiths, 1984) are […]
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