Abstract

DE GRANDE, Pablo. Designed for babies. Objects and practices in the first year. Rev.latinoam.cienc.soc.niñez juv [online]. 2016, vol.14, n.1, pp.287-300. ISSN 1692-715X.  https://doi.org/10.11600/1692715x.14119220514.

This article presents research results about the everyday lives of babies in the city of Buenos Aires. Its three main objectives are: (1) to map and describe the practices and objects used in child rearing and caring for babies; (2) to evaluate the pervasiveness of the use of objects designed for babies compared to general-purpose objects; (3) identify the meanings, reasons and forms of legitimization of the practices and objects used; and (4) analyze unexpected effects associated with these objects and practices. The data for the analysis consists of 14 in-depth interviews with mothers of infants aged between 7 and 12 months. The main results from the study include: the identification of a broad presence of objects specifically designed for babies; heterogeneous levels of adoption; strong links between the success of objects specifically designed for babies and their ability to allow parents to simultaneously engage in other activities while caring for their baby.

Keywords : early childhood; child care; child rearing; daily life; toys; food habits; objects for babies; parenting practices.

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