caregiver infant interactions

• strength controlled observations, activity that may distract the baby can be controlled, and the observations can be recorded and analysed later less likely that the researchers will miss key information and interactions. Filming the interactions increases inter-rater reliability.babies are unaware that they are being observed therefore it prevents demand characteristics. But this can be seen as unethical as the baby cannot consent so the caregiver will have to give parental consent. Therefore the research will have good reliability and validity.
• limitation is that it is hard to interpret a baby's behaviour. Young babies lack coordination as their body is almost immobile. The movements being observed are small hand movements or subtle changes. It is difficult to be sure whether a baby is smiling or just passing wind, and what is happening from the baby’s perspective. This is because we cannot know if a hand movement is random or triggered by the caregiver. This means we are unable to be certain whether caregiver-infant interactions have a special meaning.
•  limitation is that the behaviour does not tell us its developmental importance. Feldman 2012 points out ideas such as synchrony and reciprocity simply names patterns of observable behaviour in baby and caregiver. The robust phenomena in the sense that they can be reliably observed but still may not be understood as a child's development doesnt tell us the purpose of these behaviours. This means that we are unable to be certain from observational research alone that reciprocity and synchrony are important in a child's development.
• But on the other hand, there is evidence from other research that early interactions are important. Isabella 1989 found that the achievement of interactional synchrony can be predicted by the quality of attachment between baby and caregiver. As the higher quality of attachment higher rates of synchrony. This means that on balance caregiver-infant interaction is most likely to be important in a child's development. 
• Interactional synchrony

  caregiver and baby reflect both the actions and emotions in a coordinated way. The actions occur simultaneously.temporal coordination of micro level social behaviour. The actions and emotions are mirrored.
• Meltzoff and Moore 1977 observed the beginnings of interactional synchrony. They did this by getting someone to make facial expressions, and the baby's response was labelled and recorded. The importance of attachment Isabella 1989 observed 30 mothers and babies and assessed the degree of synchrony, and the quality of attachment. The better quality of attachment the higher degree of synchrony.
• Reciprocity

  interactionreciprocal and the caregiver and infant respond to each other's signals, and elicits a response from the other. It can be seen as turn-taking. Say a mother smiles in response the child/ baby will smile back. Babies have periodic alert phases which is when they are ready to interact. Research shows that mothers respond ⅔ of the time (Fieldman and Eidelman 2007)and it can depend on the skill of the caregiver and external factors (Finegood 2006).
• reciprocity

  Around 3 months it becomes more frequent as both pay close attention to verbal signs and facial expressions. Active involvement can be traditional or modern. Traditional is when the babies are portrayed as passive in receiving care from their caregiver. Modern is where both of them are active as they both initiate interactions from one another. Brazelton 1975 ‘dance’ as they respond to each other's moves.