Using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire to assess later effects of an infant intervention promoting language in primary care.

Background: Positive relational experiences during infancy have a profound impact on child development and are critical for future health and school readiness. We have been evaluating a simple finger puppet intervention that takes one minute and costs $1USD to deliver in the primary care setting to promote caregiver-infant interactions. We explored using developmental trajectories to determine later outcomes of our early intervention program by comparing trajectories to age 36 months to assess optimal intervention timing when delivered in early versus late infancy.

Finger Puppets to Support Early Language Development: Effects of a Primary Care-Based Intervention in Infancy.

Verbally rich interactions beginning in early infancy are critical to future vocabulary development. We explored the effectiveness of introducing finger puppets in the primary care setting to support caregiver-infant interactions. The intervention cohort was given a puppet at 2 months, with high dosage defined as using the puppet daily in the first 2 weeks.

Impact on Maternal Postpartum Depressive Symptoms of a Primary Care Intervention Promoting Early Language: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: Maternal depressive symptoms are an important risk factor for adverse child outcomes, especially in the perinatal period. We studied whether introducing finger puppets in the primary care setting to promote infant language improves maternal postpartum depressive symptoms.

Methods: An intervention cohort was enrolled and given a finger puppet at the 2-month infant well visit.

Using Finger Puppets in the Primary Care Setting to Support Caregivers Talking With Their Infants: A Feasibility Pilot Study.

Disadvantaged children often show disparities in early language development. We tested the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of introducing finger puppets in the primary care setting at the 2-month well visit to support caregivers talking with their infants. Caregivers completed a sociodemographic survey and were contacted by phone 2 weeks later to assess initial usage and satisfaction.