Developmental interventions in infancy during lengthy hospitalizations.

ABSTRACT A review of concepts related to infant development, care, and stimulation is presented. A description is provided of the development of an infant with small bowel syndrome during her hospitalization from birth until age 19 months. Interventions which facilitated feeding, sitting, walking, fine motor and language development are described. In addition, interventions are reviewed which focus on enhancing the infant's attachment to her cartakers, object permanence, and object constancy, and helping the normal unfolding of the individuation process. Efforts to “normalize” the hospital environment for the infant are stressed. The implications of the infant's hospitalizations and her future psychological development are discussed.