The present study attempts to move beyond the social address research design to investigate the process by which socioeconomic status (SES) exerts its influence on parenting practices. Of particular interest were maternal practices related to cognitive outcomes in children. The conceptual model of the study was based on the reliable finding that SES is positively related to the quality of the rearing environment, as assessed with Caldwell and Bradley's Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME). To explain that finding, four hypotheses were tested among 65 mother-infant dyads: (1) child-rearing beliefs mediate the relationship between SES and the intellectual quality of the rearing environment; (2) SES is positively related to the level of social support available to the mothers which, in turn, is related to the quality of care mothers provide for their children; (3) temperamentally difficult infants elicit less supportive care in families with few resources; and (4) the positive relationship between SES and the HOME are related to family income. Support was found for the first two hypotheses. (Author/RH)