Functions of maternal touch and infants’ affect during face-to-face interactions: New directions for the still-face

The functions of maternal touch were investigated during a still-face (SF) procedure between 40 mothers and their 5(1/2)-month-old infants. Mothers used more nurturing touch when their infants exhibited distress during the SF period. In addition, the quality of maternal regulatory behavior provided in the interval between the SF and Reunion Normal period was found to influence the amount of maternal nurturing touch in the Reunion Normal period.