Socio‐emotional development trajectories in infants at high risk of cerebral palsy: A longitudinal cohort study

This study examined social and emotional development in infants at high risk of cerebral palsy (CP) compared to typically developing infants during the first 15 months of life. Early social–emotional skills help children form relationships, manage emotions, and explore their environment, and are important for later well-being and social functioning. We followed infants at three time points: 3 to 4 months, 9 months, and 15 months of age. We found that infants at high risk of CP showed more difficulties in social–emotional development than their typically developing peers. Between 38% and 47% of high-risk infants scored above the clinical threshold for concern, compared with 0% to 22% of infants in the comparison group. Difficulties peaked around 9 months in both groups, a period when infants face new social and emotional challenges. Infants whose parents reported higher stress in the first months of life also tended to show more social–emotional difficulties. While we cannot determine cause and effect, these results suggest that supporting parents and parent–infant relationships could be important for early development. Early motor or language skills did not predict social–emotional outcomes in this study. Our findings highlight the need for routine early screening for social–emotional difficulties in infants at risk of CP, alongside interventions that support both the child and the parent. Families may benefit from programs that help parents manage stress, respond to their infant's cues, and foster positive interactions during this sensitive period. Early support may help reduce the risk of later emotional or behavioral challenges.