title: Effects of a Preferred Stimulus and Mother's Attention on Infant Behavior During Tummy Time.
abstract: "Tummy time" is an activity for infants to develop muscle tone; however, it often evokes crying and non-compliance. The current study investigated two interventions for an infant to a) increase elevated head behavior, and b) decrease negative vocalizations. The study compared the effects of a preferred stimulus with or without maternal attention on infant behaviors during tummy time. The addition of maternal attention produced more positive outcomes:The science of behavior analysis can be used to treat a broad range of socially significant behaviors like infant behavior during tummy time.Preference assessments can be used with infants to identify potentially reinforcing stimuli.The continuous provision of a preferred stimulus during tummy time may help infants to increase positive behaviors and decrease problem behaviors.Parent attention may have an added benefit to a treatment package for typically developing infants.
authors.affiliation: grid.262273.00000000121883760Department of Psychology, Queens College of the City University of New York, Queens College 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367 USA.
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.affiliation: grid.262273.00000000121883760Department of Psychology, Queens College of the City University of New York, Queens College 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367 USA.
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fienup
keywords: Infant behavior; Parent attention; Preferred stimulus; Tummy time