Book excerpt: This Symposium resulted from a linkage of interests of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Dental Research, and the Fogarty International Center. The Perinatal Biology and Infant Mortality Program of the NICHD sponsors investigations of pregnancy, maternal health, intrauterine growth and infant development. A major role is in the instigation and the support of research pertinent to the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The NIDR Section on Oral and Pharyngeal Development studies the infant performances of feeding, vocalization, and positioning, relating these to changes in local sensory resources. The FIC, through its Conference and Seminar Program, furthers international research pertinent to medicine. This conference of developmental anatomists and physiologists with clinicians concerned with the developmentally calendared entity of SIDS resulted in a productive and provocative exchange. We learned from each other and with each other. This volume is composed of chapters which were prepared after the conference, based in varying degree on the typescript of the spoken presentations. The questions and comments of the discussions were edited by the contributors and the responses by the chapter authors.