Early Caregiver Coaching in Infancy Enhances Social and Communication Skills, New Study Finds

A recent study conducted by the Kennedy Krieger Institute highlights the significant benefits of initiating caregiver coaching before the age of one to support infants with early signs of social communication delays. The research, published in Autism Research, demonstrates that tailored in-home coaching sessions for parents and primary caregivers can markedly improve infants' ability to engage socially and communicate effectively.

The study involved 16 in-home coaching sessions with trained developmental psychologists for caregivers of infants as young as 8 months. During these sessions, caregivers learned specific strategies such as narrating their baby's actions—like saying "you rolled the ball"—and selecting toys that foster language, attention, and engagement. The findings revealed that such targeted coaching significantly boosted infants' face-to-face social interactions and nonverbal communication skills.

One of the notable outcomes was the nearly doubling of joint attention behaviors, where infants look between objects and people, an essential precursor to language development. Additionally, caregiver implementation of these strategies increased by 20%, with improvements sustained for at least eight weeks post-intervention. Caregivers who adopted these techniques were more effective during interactions than those who had only received general education.

Early social communication delays are often precursors to disorders like autism. Traditionally, interventions are initiated at age 2 or 3, but this study supports the idea that beginning support within the first year of life can proactively influence developmental trajectories. Dr. Rebecca Landa, the lead researcher, emphasizes that early intervention can be transformative, enabling families to support their child's growth and potentially mitigate more significant delays.

This innovative approach underscores the importance of supporting families early in infancy, capitalizing on the brain's heightened plasticity during this critical period. Early caregiver coaching not only empowers parents with practical strategies but also promotes better social and communicative outcomes for their children.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-early-caregiver-age-boosts-infants.html