Many parents decide to create something known as a “baby box” to store things that are important to their child’s lives. For example, some baby boxes have old photos, their first outfits, the newspaper from the day they were born, and baby blankets. While these mementos make a great keepsake and serve as a reminder for those early years, they can also serve as a representation of the stages of child development.
A recent study examined the behavior of children in relation to their attachment objects which include those infamous baby blankets and other soft toys like stuffed animals. This study found that the role these objects take on in a child’s life differs across the lifespan and can influence children’s preferences when it comes to an attachment object. In general, attachment objects are used to reduce the presence of a stress response and help the child regulate their emotions. In order to continue this though, the role of the attachment objects must change just as the child grows and changes.
Researchers discovered that children one year old and younger are more likely to choose soft clothes as their comfort object. Children at this age use the comfort object to replace the role of a mother’s soothing by satisfying the need for tactile touch and comfort and thus can reduce their cry response. Children this age often satisfy these needs by using their mouth or skin on the blankets. However, as children shift into ages two and older, the preference in attachment objects changes and the role of the attachment object is also altered. As children age, they begin to prefer soft toys such as stuffed animals to be their attachment object. This is believed to be because as a child ages, their language also develops allowing them to engage in pretend play. Children have a desire to engage and talk about new experiences going on in the world around them and by personifying a stuffed animal, they find a source of companionship in which to share these new experiences.
So, while it is nostalgic to thumb through the memories in those baby boxes, make sure to save the blankets and the toys to remind yourself of not only the good times but how much you have changed!
Read the full article here
Marissa Robarge
UConn KIDS Research Assistant