MONDAY, Nov. 15, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- The stress of parenting has a negative impact on the development of the mother-infant relationship in triplets, says a study by the Society for Research in Child Development.
Researchers tracked 23 sets of triplets, 23 sets of twins and 23 single babies from birth to when the babies were 1 year old. They found that mothers of triplets displayed lower levels of sensitivity to their babies' communication signals than mothers of twins or singletons.
By the time they were 1 year old, triplets had poorer cognitive development and were less able to use symbols during free play -- such as playing mom by feeding a doll and putting it to bed -- than twins or singletons.
Among the triplets, the poorest cognitive development at age 1 was seen in the triplets who had the most serious health problems at birth. These babies received the lowest level of maternal sensitivity -- mothers showed them less warmth and visual attention, the study found.
Parents of triplets reported much higher levels of parenting stress than parents of twins or singletons. The study found this higher level of stress was associated with lower maternal sensitivity and lower cognitive development in triplets.
The findings indicate that federal or state support is crucial in the first months after parents have triplets. Parents of triplets need to be informed about the developmental risks to their children and, in particular, to the sickest child, the researchers said.
The study authors said parents of triplets should receive pre- and post-birth counseling and that triplets' development should be closely monitored through their infancy.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about parenting multiples.
