Infantrearing

Infantrearing refers to the processes, practices, and routines involved in caring for an infant from birth through early childhood. It encompasses physical care, nutrition, health monitoring, safety, and social-emotional development, with a focus on the relationship between the infant and primary caregivers.

Core activities include feeding (breast milk, formula, timing and progression of solids), sleep management (nighttime sleep, daytime naps, and safe sleep practices such as placing infants on their backs on a firm surface), hygiene, medical care (immunizations, well-baby visits, illness response), and developmental stimulation through responsive interactions, play, language exposure, and sensorimotor experiences. Establishing routines and consistent caregiving practices is common across many settings.

Caregiving approaches vary widely across cultures and families. The field emphasizes concepts such as responsive or sensitive caregiving and secure attachment, while debates continue over practices like sleep training and co-sleeping. Safety guidelines evolve with evidence on risks and best practices, including car seat use, fall prevention, and environmental hazards.

Research on infantrearing examines how caregiving influences attachment security, cognitive and language development, behavior, and health outcomes. Factors such as caregiver mental health, social support, and socioeconomic conditions shape caregiving and access to resources, affecting developmental trajectories.

Historically, infantrearing practices have been shaped by cultural norms, economic structures, and advances in medicine and psychology. As knowledge grows, recommendations continue to adapt, reflecting diverse family structures, cultural values, and individual infant needs.