INFANT-FEEDING BEHAVIOR AND CARETAKER-INFANT RELATIONSHIPS IN BLACK-FAMILIES

This article examines the role of infant feeding behavior in the devel opment and quality of caretaker-infant interactions in Black families. The first section reviews literature on the importance of early infan t feeding behaviors to the physical, emotional and cognitive developme nt of the infant. Emphasis is placed on the role of early feeding inte ractions as the context for the development of caretaker-infant relati onships and the reciprocal influence of caretaker-infant interactions on the infant's subsequent development. The second section identifies factors that may place Black infants at higher risk for poor feeding i n the first year of life. These factors include the higher incidence o f low birthweight and premature infants born to Black women, as well a s prenatal exposure to alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. The implic ations of these findings and the broader impact of drug use in the Bla ck community on Black family life and outcomes are discussed.