Infant behavior is influenced by state, temperament
and the ability of the infant to self-regulate. The
manner in which infants respond to internal and
external stimuli and to their caregivers depends
upon the infants’ state of consciousness. For example,
an infant’s response to being held (cuddliness)
varies with the infant’s state. An infant in
quiet sleep may be very passive. In a crying state,
the same infant may resist being held. In a quietalert
state, this same infant might respond in a
passive manner, resist holding, or relax and nestle into the caregiver’s arms. Table 7 describes specific
infant behaviors.