The ways that adults interact with infants and toddlers and the experiences they provide are crucial for the future development of these young children. It is challenging work because of the high dependence of infants and toddlers on adults, and the variability in their development.

In a 2010 study, researchers assessed the perceptions of low-income mothers with regards to their child’s weight status and physical activity and their beliefs about healthy and high-density foods using a sample of 813 mothers attending a vaccination centre at three primary care clinics.

The findings concluded that through regular health checks, developmental delays can be detected early.