February 24, 2004 — When a baby is born prematurely, parents naturally worry about their child's health and well-being. However, many premature babies do just fine and catch up to their peers in growth and development. But a snag in the development process can occur when mothers are overly concerned about the long-term fragility of their baby. These mothers may end up sheltering their child and providing fewer opportunities to interact and gain independence in day-to-day activities.

A recent study in Pediatrics found that mothers who were the most anxious when their baby was released from the hospital were more likely to perceive their child as medically vulnerable a year later. Often these children have the ability to catch up to, and exceed, their peers but are held back due to parental fears of illness or injury. The researchers suggest that pediatricians screen parents of premature infants to identify those who are overly anxious. By providing early intervention, pediatricians can help parents overcome their fears, gain confidence in their child's health and well-being, and ensure the child is raised in an encouraging, supportive environment.