The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between the kinds of infant's feeding (breastfeeding, complement and mixed) and the mother-infant interactional behaviors. The participants included 20 dyads of pre-term infant (Group I) who had needed intensive care, 14 dyads of full-term infant (Group II) who had needed intensive care, and 24 dyads of full-term health infants (Group III). The risk was considered by the neonatal intensive care needed. The mother-infant interaction was filmed at face-to-face situation and evaluated through Mother-Infant Interaction Protocol (Schermann et al. 1994) to assess the maternal behaviors, the infant behaviors and the dyads behaviors. Results showed that maternal sensitivity was very different between groups (p = 0.039); Group III (control group) had a better maternal sensitivity. Therefore maternal sensitivity is better in mothers of full-term health infants, than in mothers of pre-term infant and full-term infant who had needed intensive care. Breastfeeding is an important factor to promote a better maternal sensitivity.
maternal sensitivity; feeding; infant born at risk
