In Erikson's first stage of development, the experiences that are deemed important to the healthy development of the child include anything that leads to trust (Erikson, 1968). The most fundamental prerequisite for the infant's mental vitality is a sense of basic trust in others and in one's own self (Erikson, 1968). Trust is not derived solely from food and demonstrations of love, but rather on the quality of maternal giving and receiving (Erikson, 1968). Freud's sucking stage, according to Erikson, is simply one way for the infant to gain trust, but is not the most important experience in an infant's development on its own (Erikson, 1968). .
According to Erikson, sucking is important to the development of trust, as infants live through and love with their mouths (Erikson, 1968). It is necessary for the mother to provide the infant with her breast when it is requested (Erikson, 1968). This is consistent with Freud's first stage of development, however, according to Erikson, it is the mother's responsiveness to all of the infant's needs that are important (Erikson, 1968). For Erikson, it is important the infant be fed whenever it is hungry, held whenever it wants to be held and it is important for the mother to respond with eagerness, warmth, and care (Erikson, 1968). When the infant is responded to with eagerness, warmth, and care, it develops a sense of trust in its caregiver and in its own abilities to have its needs met (Erikson, 1968). .
The developmental outcomes that occur when a child's experiences are corrupted in the first stage differ from Freud to Erikson as well. According to Freud, a child develops in an unhealthy manner if they do not experience sucking in the correct way (Brown, 1976). For example, if the mother's breast is unavailable to the infant or removed too early, the infant may gain a substitute and find other ways to gratify its need to suck (Brown, 1976).
