Several times in the past few months I have heard about "new research" on
the effects of affection during early childhood--for example:

9/13/97, Seattle Times:

"Science is confirming what some mothers have known for eons, said Dr. Don
Vereen of the National Institute on Drug Abuse:  Touching, holding and
cuddling children stimulates development of complex intellectual centers
in the brain.  Scientists still aren't sure how early brain development
occurs, but "something hidden is going on" in children's early months that
requires plenty of parental involvement, Vereen said at the 27th annual
Congressional Black Caucus convention."

And today's Seattle Times:

"...using recent research on early childhood development to justify new
federal child-care programs...The research...found that the amount of
stimulation and affection children get in their first three years has a
lot to do with how well their brains develop.  Many parents know this
instinctively, but the scientists helped kick off the new round of concern
about infant care."

And Carolyn Westcott's Oct. 1 posting on Lactnet quoting an article in a
British newspaper:

"'We think this shows the importance of touching, cuddles and
breastfeeding and rough-and-tumble play.  People must not just pay lip-
service to being affectionate to their child but show real physical
contact.' The research is being done at the McGill University in
Montreal."

So my question is:  is this one study or many?  Does anyone know the exact
references?  WE NEED data like this when teaching prenatal breastfeeding
classes, counseling moms who are distraught because their babies nurse
"too often," and trying gently to persuade Ezzo-educated parents that the
research shows there is a better way.

A quick pubmed search uncovered this reference but I'm eager to hear what
anyone else knows:

Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 1997 Jan;11(1):2-20
Childhood influences on adult health: a review of recent work from the
British 1946 national birth cohort study, the MRC National Survey of
Health and Development.
Wadsworth ME, Kuh DJ
MRC National Survey of Health and Development, University College London
Medical School, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health.

Ginna Wall, MN, IBCLC, Lactation Services
Coordinator University of Washington Medical Center, Mailbox 356153
1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle WA 98195
Voicemail: (206)548-6368, Fax: (206)548-7665