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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 17, 2025

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
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Carrying human infants - An evolutionary heritage.

Bernadett Berecz1, Mel Cyrille2, Ulrika Casselbrant3

  • 1Eotvos Lorand University, Institute of Biology, Pazmany Peter stny. 1/C. H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.

Infant Behavior & Development
|June 23, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Infant carrying is a biological norm, rooted in human evolution and co-adaptation between caregiver and infant. This practice influenced Hominidae evolution, impacting dexterity, language, and social skills.

Keywords:
AttachmentBabywearingBondingEpigeneticsEvolutionHomoIn-armsInfant carryingTransport response

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Anthropology
  • Human development

Background:

  • Human infants possess clinging reflexes, suggesting co-evolution with upright caregivers.
  • Bipedalism's emergence 4 million years ago shifted infant carrying from horizontal to upright positions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose infant carrying as a biological norm in human caregiving.
  • To explore the evolutionary origins and implications of infant carrying.
  • To review the intersection of infant carrying with biological and cultural evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Review of evolutionary milestones and time points in human-infant interaction.
  • Analysis of infant cooperative reflexes and carrying-induced calming responses.
  • Discussion of hypotheses for infant carrier tool invention.

Main Results:

  • Infant carrying is presented as an evolutionarily conserved strategy with physiological and behavioral parent-infant co-adaptations.
  • Carrying may have influenced Hominidae evolution, aiding dexterity, handedness, language, and social interactions.
  • Potential epigenetic transmission of reproductive behavior and its effects on offspring development and parental mental health are discussed.

Conclusions:

  • Infant carrying is a fundamental aspect of human caregiving with deep evolutionary roots.
  • This practice has had significant impacts on human biological and cultural evolution.
  • Further research into the physiological, epigenetic, and socio-emotional outcomes of infant carrying is warranted.