Can talking about feelings with your baby boost development? new study investigates
NCT ID NCT04531618
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study compared two programs for new mothers and their babies, starting in the hospital nursery and continuing until the baby is 4 months old. One program focused on emotional exchange, where mothers shared stories and discussed feelings with their baby. The other provided standard newborn care education. Researchers measured bonding, caregiving quality, and child development to see if emotional exchange improves mother-child relationships and early development.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could show that encouraging emotional exchange between mothers and babies improves bonding and child development, pointing toward simple, scalable parenting programs.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with 132 participants, so results may not apply to all families. The interventions are behavioral and effects may be modest or hard to measure.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
New York, New York, 10032, United States
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