The uniqueness of mother-Own-infant interactions

The goal of this study was to identify "special" maternal behaviors which are exclusive to own-infant interactions. To do so, we compared the behavior of 20 mothers during interactions with their own newborn and with a newborn who was not their own. The results show that mothers touch their own infant's face more than they touch the face of an unfamiliar infant, and that they hold their infant within closer visual proximity. In addition, mothers play stimulating vocal and physical games, adjust their holding position, and use distal holds more with the unfamiliar infant than with their own infant. These data together portray interactions of mothers with their own infant as "quieter" and more intimate than their interactions with infants who are not their own.