Good parenting: Making a difference

The relevance of the quality of parenting to outcomes for children is reviewed, as well as research findings on the important dimensions of parenting in the early years. Some of the limitations of current parenting research are outlined. The contributory parent and child factors that mediate outcomes are identified, and the ways in which they interact in a bi-directional and dynamic process to determine the quality of parenting and the parent–child relationship. This information is applied to the task of parenting neonates and infants, and interventions are identified that indicate the scope and type of improvements or enhancements to parenting capacity that can be achieved. Particular issues and problems relating to the parenting of neonates or infants with special needs are briefly discussed, as well as promising initiatives to enable the care of ill babies to be more relationship-based and family centred.