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While early mother-infant interactions in cases of maternal depression have been extensively studied, much less is known about the early interactions of psychotic mothers with their children. Likewise, studies comparing early interactions involving different maternal mental disorders are scarce. This study assesses the similarities and differences in mother-infant interactions between dyads whose mother is depressive or psychotic in terms of behavioral synchrony, maternal sensitivity, and interactive style. Eighteen mother-infant hospitalized dyads (10 with depressed mother and 8 with psychotic mother) were assessed. Interactions were recorded during the infant’s bath and analyzed through two complementary methods adapted for the purposes of this study: a quantitative analysis (Belsky, Rovine and Taylor, 1984) and a qualitative analysis (Care Index, Crittenden, 1981). Maternal psychopathology, either depressive or psychotic, is associated with disharmonious interactive styles. The main common characteristics are lack of attunement and scarcity of interactive exchanges. Maternal depression seems to have more influence on interaction synchrony and on both partners’ withdrawal. Dyads of psychotic mothers show globally more interactions, but these are not more attuned than those of depressed mothers. It emerges that, rather than the mother’s psychopathology, it is her interactive style that defines the infant’s. The precocity of the infant’s reaction to maternal behavior highlights the need for early therapeutic intervention in these at-risk dyads.