The Combined Contributions of Newborn Stress and Parenting Stress on Toddler Language Development

The present study investigated the longitudinal associations between newborn neurobehavioral stress signs, maternal parenting stress, and several indices of toddler language development.

It measured stress signs in neonates at least 24 hours after birth using the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale and assessed parenting stress (competence, attachment, and role restriction) at seven months. It further assessed the Communicative Development Inventories, which measured toddler gesturing, expressive vocabulary, and receptive vocabulary at 18 months. The study found-

• Significantly fewer social-communicative gestures at 18 months of age in infants exhibiting greater neurobehavioral stress signs at birth. 
• Negative association between newborn stress signs and 18-month-olds’ receptive vocabulary size among infants whose mothers reported low (but not high) levels of parenting stress during the first postnatal year.
• No significant relation between newborn stress signs or parenting stress and toddler expressive vocabulary size.

The study highlights a negative association between newborn stress signs and toddler gesturing. Additionally, it indicates that caregiver stress and neonatal stress signs predict toddler-receptive vocabulary. These findings suggest that infants showing heightened neurobehavioral stress signs may face increased risks of language difficulties. Early intervention and support during infancy may help these children overcome potential language development challenges.

Bruce M, Compton AM, Maylott SE, et al. The Combined Contributions of Newborn Stress and Parenting Stress on Toddler Language Development. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2024; 270:114006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114006