You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
This article addresses the similar effects on the very young child of abrupt weaning after breastfeeding, and overnight parenting access with the father when the mother is the primary caretaker and the child is primarily attached to the mother’s home as their home. The role of the young child’s unconscious fantasies is considered, particularly in perceiving the mother in these situations as rejecting, hostile and persecutory towards the young child, as well as the short-term and long-term effects of these early experiences on child, adolescent and adult development. The conflict existing between the application of sound psychoanalytic child development theory and research and the legal Best Interests of the Child standard is raised for discussion. Finally, how these adverse experiences impact on the creation and use of nostalgia are addressed.