[Parent-child-interaction in infancy (author's transl)]

On the basis of many experimental studies it is demonstrated that not only mother-child-relationship in infancy but also father-child-relationship is important for child development. Different patterns of mother-child-interaction as well as father-child-interaction during the first weeks after birth are reported and intervening variables are discussed. Kind and degree of interactions of both parents with the newborn and infant influence the emotional, social, and cognitive development of the child. On the other hand the birth of child and the behavior of the newborn determine personal development of father and mother, too. The growth of the family is to be regarded as a process which is based on the differentiated net work of conditions. The concentration of research on mother-child-contacts has to be rejected in the light of these new findings and has to be regarded as hostile against the family as a whole.