Secret social lives of babies

The groundbreaking research by psychologist Professor Ben Bradley, at Charles Stuart University, could revolutionize the way childcare centres are set up.

Professor Bradley and his fellow researchers watched four groups of nine month old babies in NSW and Britain with startling results.

They found that infants had “social brains’’ and focused not just on their mothers but on social life in groups as well. They communicate with more than one baby at once, show jealousy and generous inclusiveness,’’

Professor Bradley said. “They develop their own meanings through group interaction, they notice if a group member is behaving differently and they take on roles, such as leader and follower.”

A baby who has a depressed mother tends to be withdrawn, but put that same baby in a group with its peers and they behave and interact like any other baby.’’ The research was the first all baby group study ever to be conducted and was funded by CSU, the University of Western Sydney, and the British Academy in London. Phoebe Christi son, a childcare worker at Camper down Sunshine Bubs in Sydney’s inner west, said she often noticed what appeared to be emotional attachments develop between toddlers.

“Joel (10 months) and Isabella (11months) always like to hold hands when they sit in their high chairs and eat,’’ she said. “And (toddlers) definitely show jealousy. They push and touch each other, copy what the other is doing.’’

Holding hands.... Joel Kensington and Isabella Davis at a daycare centre.