Authors: Tara Caplin, Tiffanee Suhaka, Maria Balaceanu, Peg Bird, Dannelle Larsen-Rife
Mentors: Dannelle Larsen-Rife
Insitution: Utah Tech University
Early parent-child interactions have a profound impact on the developing brain, influencing lifelong emotional and social well-being. This review evaluates the Newborn Behavioral Observation (NBO), a relationship-based neurobehavioral approach for families and infants three months old and younger. The NBO supports newborns, caregiver’s, and families by providing individualized information on their infants' behavior and competencies. It facilitates communication and intersubjectivity between infants and caregivers during a critical developmental period, while reducing maternal postpartum depression (PPD). Research on the association between the NBO, PPD, and infant neurodevelopment is reviewed and evaluated in high-risk populations. Although evidence supports approaches like the NBO, they are not yet standard in early intervention due to clinicians' lack of training in infant mental health. The NBO is a foundational tool for cultivating positive early relationships with beneficial implications for clinician standard care of newborns and families.
Keywords: Newborn Behavioral Observation (NBO), early relationships, postpartum depression (PPD), infant development, relationship-based, early intervention.