Early Infant Brain Trauma

Infants have a lot going on during their typical day; all kinds of stimuli are being processed by their little brains, and they are working hard to figure out their world. The introduction of trauma can have a profoundly negative impact on brain development. The first several months of a baby's life are crucial, and the effects of trauma are damaging, and long-lasting.

Crying and trust

In the beginning, newborns cry only when hungry or uncomfortable. Typically, when an infant cries, a parent or caregiver shows up and provides food, dry diapers, and snuggles to calm him. He learns quickly that crying equals loving attention. Soon, the baby begins to cry if he's bored or lonely, and he expects that the parent will be there with those snuggles that he craves.

This is how bonding takes place, and it's one of the single most important developmental phases in a child's life. When a child can trust that if he cries, a parent will help him, he learns to trust the world and people around him. As an older child, he will be able to form friendships and trust important adults such as teachers and relatives. This developmental phase even affects the baby when he becomes an adult, as he is able to form normal, trusting romantic relationships.

The infant whose cries are not heeded is in a much more perilous situation. He quickly learns that even if he is hungry or uncomfortable, no one will show up to attend to him, or will do so only sporadically. He soon finds other ways to cope - either by sleeping or adopting lethargic physical behavior, or by crying inconsolably.

When a parent is either abusive or neglecting, an inconsolable infant is like a vicious cycle - the baby cries, no matter if his needs are met or not, and the unstable parent responds by attending to the child even more sporadically, or engaging in abusive behavior.

The bonding stage of infant development is crucial to forming trust, and a child who learns to distrust his world is a child in danger of developing behavior problems, and social problems.

Eating/Sleeping disorders

Infants who experience trauma in their early months are also much more likely to develop eating or sleeping disorders. An infant's delicate balance is easily upset. Infants can distinguish even small differences in the tones of adults who are caring for them. A stressed parent or abusive parental relationship can upset a baby's appetite, causing him to under-eat, or in some cases, to overeat in order to self-cope. As the child becomes older, obesity can be a problem, as can stomach disorders such as ulcers.

Babies learn to put themselves to sleep at a fairly early age. Though a parent may celebrate once a child is "sleeping through the night," little do they know that their baby is actually waking up on occasion. As long as the baby isn't hungry or uncomfortable, a secure, loved infant will be able to lull himself back to sleep without crying.

Stressed or abused infants do not feel the same security and will often cry inconsolably. The opposite, but equally typical situation occurs when an infant sleeps when stressed. These babies grow into children who have a difficult time going to bed at a reasonable hour, and are often tired and cranky at school. Of course, this affects their learning both during the toddler stage, and as older children.

Long-term Developmental Delays

Children who experience trauma as infants are affected long-term, throughout their childhood and even into adulthood. The issues of trust, combined with sleep and eating disorders can have ongoing impact on learning, and slower learning often leads to self-esteem issues. Normal relationships are difficult, if not impossible.

The best environment for an infant is one of stability, trust and love. All babies deserve this environment.

About The Author Katie Franklin is a researcher and writer on parenting, children and child development. She is a regular contributor at Child Development Media Inc She also contributes at Quality Toys and Hobbies