Hunter-gatherer approach to childcare suggests that the key to mother and child well-being may be many caregivers

[eShirl]

https://phys.org/news/2023-11-hunter-gatherer-approach-childcare-key-mother.html

excerpt

In the observed hunter-gatherer communities, caregiving goes so far beyond the parents, according to the researchers. Children often have 10+ caregivers and occasionally 20 or more, and typically a mother's support system would help respond to more than half of her baby's episodes of crying, which can be one of the most challenging aspects of parenting.

"Support for mothers also has numerous benefits for children such as reducing the risk of neglect and abuse, buffering against family adversity, and improving maternal well-being which in turn enhances maternal care," said Dr. Swanepoel.

The study found that it was common for older children and adolescents to be heavily involved in caring for infants, further supporting mothers and giving these young caregivers valuable experience. The researchers speculate that this might boost their confidence as caregivers, and perhaps offer some protection against the anxieties often experienced by first time parents.

The authors also point out that in Western societies it is common for childcare to be used simply to allow parents to work, but insist that childcare needs to give parents an actual break. They argue that throughout human history and prehistory, parents have never been under the pressure they are now in terms of lack of support.

[Basic LA]

1. It takes a village!

Very true. Child care can be overwhelming.

[Warpy]

2. I think the ghettoization of women in bedroom suburbs in the 50s

was horrible for them and horrible for those of us who were kids back then. Mothers didn't get any kind of a break until the youngest kid went off to school. This is clearly insane.

No wonder we all turned to drugs in the late 60s.

[cally]

3. Expecting a single care giver (primarily mother) to be

Fully responsible for a child’s well being is unhealthy for Mother and child. The isolation and lack of community support is devastating. And then Mother’s get blamed for everything that goes wrong.

[Ziggysmom]

4. Great article. What the GQP does not understand is that a child's

health and welfare also depends quite heavily on the mother’s own needs being met.
Current societal norms, programmed to shuffle kids off to daycare so mom can work, is often harmful to entire families.