Comparison of U.S. and Tajik infants' time in containment devices

Abstract

How infants are held or contained throughout the day shape infants' experiences, particularly around movement and exploration. In Tajikistan, caregivers use ‘gahvora’ cradles, which severely restrict the body and limbs. The present study explored the variability and use of containment devices in U.S. and Tajik infants. Using time diaries, we compared 12‐month‐olds in the U.S. and Tajikistan on the types of containments used and the time spent in them throughout the day. During the day, Tajik infants accumulated more time in gahvoras than infants in the U.S. spent in cribs, primarily used for sleep, suggesting gahvoras served other functions. Given the availability of other devices, U.S. infants' time was distributed in short yet frequent bouts across devices. Accumulated time in these containments matched accumulated time Tajik infants spent in gahvoras. Tajik infants accumulated more unrestricted time on the ground, which was distributed in prolonged bouts, than U.S. infants. Findings highlight differences in infants' everyday experiences during the developmental period when motor skills emerge. By embracing commonalities and exploring differences between cultures, this study offers insights into differences in infants' everyday experiences and opportunities for movement.

Longitudinal relations between independent walking, body position, and object experiences in home life.

“…EMA can also provide converging evidence with other survey/interview approaches. Our finding about the relative frequency of restraint types—unrestrained was most frequent, followed by restraint in device/furniture, followed by restraint by caregiver—mirrors the ranking found in an interview-based study (Karasik et al, 2022).…”

“…Structured interviews and EMA are likely to provide more accurate estimates of restrained versus unrestrained time. Karasik et al (2022) used structured interviews to estimate the time U.S. and Tajik 12-month-olds spent restrained in a typical day, prompting parents to recount the previous day's activities and placing them in a timeline. They found that infants in both cultures were frequently restrained, but the type of restraint varied according to the kinds of devices that were available in each culture.…”

Diversity and representation in infant research: Barriers and bridges toward a globalized science of infant development

“…However, too often, these compilations were conducted using Western samples, with children reared in Western traditions where childrearing practices are child-centered, the environment is object-abundant for play, and infants are free to move and encouraged to explore. This approach neglects cultural variation in infants' everyday experiences created by childrearing practices, such as how caregivers handle, position, and dress their infants which may offer unique opportunities for movement and exploration (Adolph et al, 2010;Adolph & Hoch, 2019;Adolph & Robinson, 2015;Karasik et al, 2022Karasik et al, , 2023.…”

Gahvora cradling in Tajikistan: Cultural practices and associations with motor development

“…When outside the cradle, infants likely took advantage of time to move and spent much of their time on the ground. Other than the gahvora, containment devices (e.g., carriers, strollers, playpens) were virtually absent in Tajik homes (Karasik et al, 2022). Although the constraints on movement imposed by gahvora cradling (Karasik et al, 2018) may seem extreme to Western eyes, other means of containment (e.g., car seats, highchairs, strollers, bouncers) are ubiquitous in Western cultures.…”