Caregiver - infant interactions

• Interactional synchrony (mirroring actions)


  Caregiver and infant respond in time to keep communication going e.g. Infant smiles, caregiver smiles back at the same time. Ensures Infant and caregiver emotions and actions mirror each others.

  Meltzoff + Moore conducted a controlled observation of 40 two-week old infants to measure caregiver-infant interactions. An adult displayed one of three facial expressions such as mouth opening. The child's response was filmed, identified, and observed. A link was found between the facial expression and the response of the infant.
• Reciprocity (turn-taking)

  • two-way, mutual process where infant and caregiver take turns to respond to each others behaviours/signals to sustain interaction.
  • The behaviour of each party elicits a response from the other (e.g. child puts arm out, caregiver picks up
  • Infants have alert phases and signal when ready for interactions. 2/3rd of the time mother picks up
  • They take turns to initiate interactions, call it a dance (Brazleton)
• How to recognize an infant attachment

  • Proximity - infants stay physically close
  • Separation distress - infants are distressed when attachment figure leaves
  • Secure bass behaviour - Infants always 'touch base' with attachment figure