Working women's selection of care for their infants: A prospective study

We interviewed 102 employed women before and after the birth of their first child to examine: (I) the influences of environmental constraints and mate rnal beliefs on mothers' care decisions, and (2) change in environmental co nstraints and beliefs. Both employment-related constraints and maternal bel iefs were related to infant care decisions, and mothers who chose nonparent al versus parent-only care differed in how their constraints and beliefs ch anged over time. Implications for practitioners are discussed.