The preterm infant's use of triangular bids at three months, adjusted age: two case studies

Abstract

This article focuses on preterm infants’ early triangular capacity, restricted to the use of triangular bids in interaction with their parents. An observational setting, the Lausanne Trilogue Play (LTP), is used for studying the patterns of interaction. This is an approach focusing on the family as a whole. These observations are part of a study consisting of video observations and interviews with the parents when the preterm infants are three and nine months, adjusted age. In this study, two out of nine infants were found to actively use triangular bids in interaction with their parents at three months, adjusted age. These two cases are presented to illustrate and discuss preterm infant's early use of triangular bids.

Keywords:

• preterm infant
• triangular bids
• Lausanne Trilogue Play
• observation study
• interaction

Acknowledgements

The author expresses her gratitude to psychologist Synnøve Drejer for her assistance in rating the observations, and to Professor Bengt Karlsson and leg psychotherapist, Monica Hedenbro, PhD, for their guidance in the writing process.