Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 15, 2025

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

750

Associations between mother-infant bed-sharing practices and infant affect and behavior during the still-face

Rachel E Lerner1, Marie Camerota2, Kristin P Tully3

  • 1Frances L. Hiatt School of Psychology, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA.

Infant Behavior & Development
|July 11, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Bed-sharing with infants at three months is linked to better self-regulation and less negativity during social interactions at six months. Nighttime contact did not mediate these positive effects on infant socioemotional outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Infant Behavior
  • Parent-Child Interaction

Background:

  • Bed-sharing is increasingly common among US parents.
  • The impact of bed-sharing on infant socioemotional development is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between mother-infant bed-sharing at 3 months and infant affect/behavior at 6 months.
  • To investigate nighttime mother-infant contact as a potential mediator.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study of 63 mother-infant dyads.
  • Utilized the Still-Face Paradigm (SFP) to assess infant responses.
  • Collected data on bed-sharing practices and nighttime contact at 3 months.

Main Results:

  • Infants who bed-shared showed significantly more self-regulatory behaviors during the SFP's still-face episode.
  • Infants bed-sharing for the entire period exhibited less negativity during the SFP reunion episode.
  • Nighttime contact did not mediate the relationship between bed-sharing and infant outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Early bed-sharing experiences may influence infant regulation at 6 months postpartum.
  • Bed-sharing might foster more positive and regulated behavior in dyadic interactions.
  • Findings suggest a direct link between bed-sharing and improved infant socioemotional functioning.

Keywords:
Bed-sharingMother-infant interactionSleep locationStill-face paradigm

More Related Videos

A Within-subjects Experimental Protocol to Assess the Effects of Social Input on Infant EEG08:20

A Within-subjects Experimental Protocol to Assess the Effects of Social Input on Infant EEG

Published on: May 3, 2017

8.1K
Author Spotlight: Capturing Infant-Caregiver Interactions Through Synchronized Multimodal Data Collection08:08

Author Spotlight: Capturing Infant-Caregiver Interactions Through Synchronized Multimodal Data Collection

Published on: May 31, 2024

1.3K

Related Concept Videos

Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
375
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
154
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
325
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships. 
48.5K
Nonconscious Mimicry01:13

Nonconscious Mimicry

Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
5.0K
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
1.3K