Child Development - University of Iowa Study Finds Close Ties Between Parents and Babies Yield Benefits for Preschoolers

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid's Nutrition Specialist

Having a close relationship with your child is highly beneficial for the whole family.  The bonds created between parent and baby from early infancy can have a lasting effect well into a child's life.  As Mum Mum’s recently reported, quality parenting may actually increase your preschooler’s IQ.   Now there is even more evidence to support this notion.  A recent study discovered that close ties between parent and child can help a child control their own behavior.

University of Iowa researchers looked at 102 families that included mother, father, and baby; all of whom volunteered for the study.  From the time the infants were 7 months old through 4 years of age, researchers carried out repeated observations in both the children’s homes as well as in the laboratory.   Observations focused on how the children and parents related to each other, communication, enjoyment of each other’s company, how parents and children picked up on each other’s cues, and if they were in sync.  Essentially, researchers noted if the parent and child had developed a positive, close, and mutually attentive relationship.

The study discovered that the children who had formed a close relationship with their mothers during the first 2 years of life did much better in 2 respects: regulating their own behavior and adhering to their mothers requests not to do something.  Some findings were similar i for the father-child relationship in regards to the child’s self-regulations at around 4 years of age.  The father-child link was less clear, however, in contrast with the mothers.  Researchers speculate the reason for this ambiguity could be due to the fact that relationships between father and child have been significantly less studied.

In order to reach these findings, researchers put the children to the test at both 4 months and 4 years old.  Parents told their child not to do something then left the room, while researchers observed the child’s response.  In addition, children were measured on how well they demonstrated patience, restraint, deliberation, and maturity of impulses.  For instance, the children were asked to keep a piece of candy in their mouths without eating it.

When examining how mutually responsive relationships worked, the study discovered that when mothers and babies developed closeness during the first 2 years of life, the mothers did not need to use force to get their child to listen to their requests and refrain from inappropriate behaviors.  By the time the children were preschool age, this gentle control by the mothers resulted in preschoolers who had better self-regulated behavior and compliance. 

While most parents understand the importance and the positive affects of a healthy bond with their babies, this study provides insight as to what that really means.   Researchers hope this study will show parents that all of their efforts early on in a child's life will certainly pay off in the long run.