Abstract
One cohort of low birth weight, preterm quintuplets and one cohort of low birth weight, preterm quadruplets were regularly tested during the first two years of life to determine if these infants lag behind in development as is reported for low birth weight, preterm singletons. Bayley mental and motor scales of development were administered at three month intervals through 18 months and again at 24 months of age; scores were adjusted for gestation. Decarie measures of Object Constancy and Objectal Relations were obtained at the same ages to study attachment to mother in a multiple caretaking situation. Both adjusted and unadjusted Mental Development and Motor Development Indices were significantly correlated with birth weight. Low birth weight preterm multiple birth infants do lag behind initially in development but they "catch" up by 2 years. Objectal scores developed earlier than object constancy scores on the Decarie, and this difference persisted longer for low birth weight infants. It was inferred that the multiple caretaking situation did not interfere with the specific attachment to the mother.
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