Culture, carrying, and communication: Beliefs and behavior associated with babywearing

Emily E Little, Cristine H Legare, Leslie J Carver, Emily E Little, Cristine H Legare, Leslie J Carver

Abstract

Ethnographic research suggests mother-infant physical contact predicts high levels of maternal responsiveness to infant cues, yet it is unclear whether this responsiveness is driven by the act of physical contact or by underlying beliefs about responsiveness. We examine beliefs and behavior associated with infant carrying (i.e., babywearing) among U.S. mothers and experimentally test the effect of mother-infant physical contact on maternal responsiveness. In Study 1 (N = 23 dyads), babywearing mothers were more likely to interact contingently in response to infant cues than non-babywearing mothers during an in-lab play session. In Study 2 (N = 492 mothers), babywearing predicted maternal beliefs emphasizing responsiveness to infant cues. In Study 3 (N = 20 dyads), we experimentally manipulated mother-infant physical contact in the lab using a within-subjects design and found that babywearing increased maternal tactile interaction, decreased maternal and infant object contact, and increased maternal responsiveness to infant vocalizations. Our results motivate further research examining how culturally-mediated infant carrying practices shape the infant's early social environment and subsequent development.

Keywords: Babywearing; Maternal responsiveness; Mother-infant interaction; Physical contact; Touch.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Experimental setup in Study 1 for both babywearers and non-babywearers (A), as well as the physical condition (B) and visual condition (C) in Study 3.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Mean difference in overall maternal responsiveness between mothers with less experience with physical contact and more experience with physical contact in Study 1. Error bars represent standard error of the mean.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Mean difference in proximal care belief score associated with infant transport method in Study 2. Error bars represent standard error of the mean.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Difference in maternal responses to infants’ vocalizations when not in physical contact with their infant and when in physical contact (within-subjects) in Study 3. Error bars represent standard error of the mean.

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