Konferencebidrag 4. OKT 2026
Minding the Baby vs Usual Care: A Cluster Quasi-Randomized Trial of Effects on Maternal and Child Wellbeing, Development, and Out-of-Home Placements
Udgivelsens forfattere:
Børn, unge og familie
- Børn, unge og familie
Siden er oprettet
Siden er redigeret
Background
Sensitive caregiving is crucial for secure attachment and healthy development, yet families facing adversity often lack support. Minding the Baby® (MTB) is a home-visiting intervention integrating mentalization- and attachment theory. This trial examined the effects of MTB on parent-child interaction, maternal well-being, child development, and out-of-home placements in a universal welfare setting in Denmark among pregnant individuals experiencing adversity.
Methods
This pragmatic, cluster quasi-randomised controlled trial was conducted across 11 Danish municipalities. Pregnant individuals aged ≥15 years identified by antenatal care teams as high-risk were enrolled. Municipalities were randomised in two waves to receive MTB training; families enrolled before training acted as controls (care-as-usual, CAU). MTB was delivered from the third trimester until the child was 24 months old via alternate home visits by a health visitor and a family therapist. All participants were assessed at baseline and at 3, 12, and 24 months postpartum. The primary outcome was maternal sensitivity measured by the Coding Interactive Behavior scale applied to video recordings of mother-infant interactions at 24 months postpartum. Secondary outcomes included parental mental health, reflective functioning, parenting experiences, child development, well-being (questionnaires), and out-of-home placement (administrative data).
Results
A total of 256 participants were recruited (183 MTB, 73 CAU). At 24 months postpartum we found no significant effect for the primary outcome (parental sensitivity). However, secondary outcomes revealed positive effects: MTB mothers were more often enrolled in education and reported greater interest and curiosity. Compared to CAU, MTB children demonstrated improved peer relationships, socio-emotional development, global functioning, but also lower child health. Fewer MTB children were placed in out-of-home care.
Conclusions
MTB showed meaningful benefits across maternal and child outcomes, especially child development and reduced out-of-home placements. These findings highlight MTB’s potential to support at-risk families even within a universal welfare system.
Sensitive caregiving is crucial for secure attachment and healthy development, yet families facing adversity often lack support. Minding the Baby® (MTB) is a home-visiting intervention integrating mentalization- and attachment theory. This trial examined the effects of MTB on parent-child interaction, maternal well-being, child development, and out-of-home placements in a universal welfare setting in Denmark among pregnant individuals experiencing adversity.
Methods
This pragmatic, cluster quasi-randomised controlled trial was conducted across 11 Danish municipalities. Pregnant individuals aged ≥15 years identified by antenatal care teams as high-risk were enrolled. Municipalities were randomised in two waves to receive MTB training; families enrolled before training acted as controls (care-as-usual, CAU). MTB was delivered from the third trimester until the child was 24 months old via alternate home visits by a health visitor and a family therapist. All participants were assessed at baseline and at 3, 12, and 24 months postpartum. The primary outcome was maternal sensitivity measured by the Coding Interactive Behavior scale applied to video recordings of mother-infant interactions at 24 months postpartum. Secondary outcomes included parental mental health, reflective functioning, parenting experiences, child development, well-being (questionnaires), and out-of-home placement (administrative data).
Results
A total of 256 participants were recruited (183 MTB, 73 CAU). At 24 months postpartum we found no significant effect for the primary outcome (parental sensitivity). However, secondary outcomes revealed positive effects: MTB mothers were more often enrolled in education and reported greater interest and curiosity. Compared to CAU, MTB children demonstrated improved peer relationships, socio-emotional development, global functioning, but also lower child health. Fewer MTB children were placed in out-of-home care.
Conclusions
MTB showed meaningful benefits across maternal and child outcomes, especially child development and reduced out-of-home placements. These findings highlight MTB’s potential to support at-risk families even within a universal welfare system.
