The Cambridge Handbook of Infant Development

This multidisciplinary handbook brings together leading international experts in infant development to provide a comprehensive, integrative account of how infants learn and develop. By synthesizing cutting-edge research across neuroscience, biology, socio-cultural context, and policy, the volume offers an authoritative overview of infant development from the prenatal period onward. It addresses foundational domains—including brain development, epigenetics, physical growth, nutrition, cognition, language, attachment, and risk—while emphasizing the dynamic, reciprocal relationships between brain, behavior, and environment. Designed to both inform and inspire, the book advances understanding of infant development and sets a forward-looking agenda for research, practice, and policy.

Key Features:

• Multidisciplinary perspective integrating neuroscience, developmental science, socio-cultural context, and policy
• Comprehensive coverage of core domains of infant development, from prenatal processes to early learning and behavior
• Theoretical and empirical depth, authored by world-leading researchers in the field
• Emphasis on reciprocal interactions between brain development, behavior, and social-cultural environments
• Detailed reviews of innovative research methods and empirical foundations
• Focus on real-world relevance, linking scientific findings to practice and policy
• Forward-looking agenda highlighting emerging questions, future research directions, and policy implications
• Valuable resource for advanced students, researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers interested in promoting optimal infant development