the development of child-caregiver interactions

Child-caregiver interactions are important throughout infancy. The focus of the interaction changes as the infant develops:

Homeostasis
Ages 0-3 months – During this stage, the focus is on homeostasis, stabilizing biological functions and organizing behavior

Parent Behavior		Effect on Infant
Respond to infant’s hunger cues Feed the infant before prolonged crying Maintain eye contact during feeding Let the infant dictate amount, pace of feedings Stop feeding when infant refuses nipple or shows lack of interest		Modulate infant arousal Prevent tense or overly-aroused infant Help with mastery of basic feeding skills Prepare for attachment

Attachment
Ages 2-6 months – One task during these months is attachment, marked by distinct interactions with individual caregivers. Feeding is one important opportunity for social interaction and attachment.

Parent Behavior		Effect on Infant
Respond to infant’s hunger cues		Strengthen social bond with parent
No engagement during feeding		Lack of pleasure with feeding Dysfunction and decreased appetite

Interactions are reciprocal, and cues are sometimes misinterpreted:

Infant Behavior		Effect on Parent
Infant pauses for social interaction		Parent interprets this as a sign of satiety and stops feeding

Separation/Individuation
Ages 6-36 months – The infant begins to have control over his or her environment and develop a sense of self. The feeding relationship moves from a one-on-one relationship (infant and caregiver) to a social event, the family meal.

Adapted from Ardvedson, 1997.

Observational scales for parent-child interactions have been developed and include the NCAST Feeding Scale (see http://ww.ncast.org for information) and a tool developed by Chatoor, et al. (Chatoor, 1997)