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- Title
Facial Overblanketing and Infant Mental Health: Can a Common Parenting Practice Affect Early Visual and Social Learning?
- Authors
Gerstein, Jacqueline; Crespi, Catherine M.; Johnson, Scott P.
- Abstract
Aim: To study facial overblanketing, a parental practice we define as coverage of an infant's face that fully blocks the infant's field of vision for extended periods while in a stroller or other infant transport. Methods: The authors surveyed fifty parents of infants aged two to twenty-four months to assess the prevalence, reasons, and circumstances of infant facial coverage. Results: Percentages of parents reporting overblanketing an infant while in a stroller, portable car seat, or sling were 73, 49, and 39 percent, respectively. Main reasons cited were sun protection (48%) and sleep promotion (36%). Although 36 percent of parents reported covering their infants' faces to promote sleep, only 6 percent reported only covering their infant while asleep. Discussion: Further work should examine if sleep promotion results from decreased arousal or heat stress. Most parents reported overblanketing for reasons other than sleep, suggesting that the child's eyes may be open during coverage, which may reduce visual and social learning during a crucial developmental period.Conclusion: Facial overblanketing may pose risks to early development; if so, mental health practitioners can educate parents to modify or avoid this practice.
- Subjects
MENTAL health; CHILD psychology; PARENTING; SOCIAL learning; VISUAL learning; CHILD development
- Publication
Best Practice in Mental Health, 2015, Vol 11, Issue 2, p24
- ISSN
1553-555X
- Publication type
Article