Mother primary care giver

Mother primary care giver

1. Mothers SHOULD be the primary caregiver

   • FREUD- Role of the mother in development of personality. mothers role in providing for the needs of the libido, in the oral stage, are unparalleled. overfeeding the child could either over indulge (gullibility and optimism), or frustrate them (pessimism and envy) creating permanent features of personality. Childs realisation of mother separation could lead their needs to go unsatisfied separation anxiety will occur.
   • BOWLBY- Monotropy, the internal working model and the maternal deprivation hypothesis. Freud wrote the An infants relationship with the mother was "unique, without parallel, laid down unilaterally for a whole lifetime as the first and strongest love object". Bowlby shared this view, who also suggested that children form 'internal working model' for all future relationships based on the one they shared with their primary caregiver. This would shape all future relationships (continuity hypothesis). primary caregiver does not have not be the mother, bowlby believed that "mother love in infancy is just as important for a childs mental health as vitamins and minerals are for physical health" A child would attach primarily to one caregiver more strongly to ensure their survival. (Monotropy) first two years are CRITICAL period, a disruption or break in the attachment would have negative long term consequences such aggression and delinquency
   • BIOMEDICAL ARGUMENTS FOR THE MOTHER AS THE PCG- The NHS and world health organisation recommends that all babies are exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months of their life, as its provides them with the healthiest start. only mothers can do so this supports the argument that mothers should stay at home as the primary care giver. the hormone oxytocin in the mother while breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and baby, more likely to interact and care for the baby than other care givers.
   • ROLE OF DAY CARE- Belsky suggests that children who spend early, extensive and continuous time in the care of non- relative are more likely to show later behavioural problems, such as aggressiveness and disobedience. children cared by relatives (non- mothers) or child minders showed behavioural problems. Aric sigman, suggested that children have elevated levels of cortisol in day care, this linked to stress related illnesses suchas heart disease, dementia.- being at home is the healthy option.

2. Mothers DO NOT have to be the primary caregiver