Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery for adults, but it can also help you bond with your baby, research shows.
Acknowledging their excitement and imitating actions or facial expressions – thus mirroring their internal experience – when they show interest in something can boost levels of oxytocin.
The hormone is important for brain development and forming bonds between parents and children.
Researchers from University College London looked at how 62 mothers interacted with their babies then measured the infants’ oxytocin levels.
The findings, in the journal Development and Psychopathology, showed that the more accurately the mother referred to her infant’s internal experience, the higher the oxytocin.
It comes as research also shows that only a quarter of millennials who say they want children are actively trying to get pregnant.
The rising cost of housing and childcare expenses are among the main reasons why fewer young adults are trying to start a family.
The analysis from the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies in London looked at more than 7,000 32-year-olds.
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery for adults, but it can also help you bond with your baby, research shows (stock photo)
Researchers from University College London looked at how 62 mothers interacted with their babies then measured the infants’ oxytocin levels (stock photo)
Just over half of them have already become parents while half of those without children said they definitely want to start a family in the future.
But only one in four of those who said they wanted to be parents or have more offspring said they were currently trying. More than a quarter of these said this was due to financial reasons.
Lead author Dr Alina Pelikh said the findings suggest that ‘financial and employment constraints are viewed by many as major challenges and key reasons for postponing parenthood’.
The paper said: ‘These findings highlight the significant role that finances and employment play in the decision on when to start trying for a(nother) child.
‘The slightly higher prevalence of these concerns among women may reflect existing evidence that women’s careers often suffer setbacks in income and career progression after childbirth.’
Overall, around a quarter of the more than 7,000 respondents said they were not sure about having more children or becoming parents for the first time.