EFFECTS OF INFANT HEAD POSITION ON SIDES PREFERENCE IN ADULT HANDLING

This study examined the possibility that the mother's preference for holding the infant on the left side is a result of the neonate's normal right-facing head position since mothers may prefer to have the infant's head facing toward them when the infant is cradled in the arms. One hundred and forty-one college students were asked to hold a doll as they would a real infant. The subjects were divided into three groups depending upon whether the doll's head was facing to the right, middle, or left. All three groups tended to hold the doll on the left side but the group given the left-facing doll had the highest proportion holding the doll on the right side. Also, subjects who had the most experience with infants showed the strongest tendency to hold the doll on the left side, independent of the doll's head position. © 1979 Ablex Publishing Corporation.