  We derive fundamental parameters of the embedded cluster DBSB48 in the
southern nebula Hoffleit18 and the very young open cluster Trumpler14, by means
of deep JHKs infrared photometry. We build colour-magnitude and colour-colour
diagrams to derive reddening and age, based on main sequence and pre-main
sequence distributions. Radial stellar density profiles are used to study
cluster structure and guide photometric diagram extractions. Field-star
decontamination is applied to uncover the intrinsic cluster sequences in the
diagrams. Ages are inferred from K-excess fractions. A prominent
pre-main-sequence population is present in DBSB48, and the K-excess fraction
f_K=55+/-6% gives an age of 1.1+/-0.5Myr. A mean reddening of A_K_s=0.9+/-0.03
was found, corresponding to $A_V=8.2\pm0.3$. The cluster CMD is consistent with
the far kinematic distance of 5 kpc for Hoffleit 18. For Trumpler 14 we derived
similar parameters as in previous studies in the optical, in particular an age
of $1.7\pm0.7$ Myr. The fraction of stars with infrared excess in Trumpler 14
is $f_K=28\pm4%$. Despite the young ages, both clusters are described by a King
profile with core radii $\rc=0.46\pm0.05$ pc and $\rc=0.35\pm0.04$ pc,
respectively for DBSB 48 and Trumpler 14. Such cores are smaller than those of
typical open clusters. Small cores are probably related to the cluster
formation and/or parent molecular cloud fragmentation. In DBSB 48, the
magnitude extent of the upper main sequence is $\Delta \ks\approx2$ mag, while
in Trumpler 14 it is $\Delta \ks\approx5$ mag, consistent with the estimated
ages.
