32 children born from HIV infected mothers (8 HIV infected and 24 seroreverted uninfected) were followed up from 1990 to 1995 at the Neurological Institute "C. Mondino" in Pavia to study the mother and baby relationship. At the end of the follow-up period, from the birth to the end of the second year of age, all children had psychosomatic disorders (repeated rejections, anorexia, sleep disturbances characterised by difficulty in falling asleep and frequent wake-ups, gaseous colics many times during the day). The psychosomatic disorders are considered as the result of an early distortion of the mother and baby relationship. Thus children born from HIV positive mothers are exposed to the possibility of developing psychological problems related to a distorted relationship with their mother.