Effects of parenting role and parent–child interaction on infant motor development in Taiwan Birth Cohort Study

•A mother's perceived infant care competence was the most important factor for infant motor development.•Parents should realize no matter how busy they are, they must interact with their infant every day, even for a short time.•If the infant is not the only baby, parents should be provided with more information about how to care for their children.

BackgroundPrevious studies have rarely focused on healthy infants' motor development, and nationwide birth cohort studies in Taiwan are limited. It has been shown that parent–child interactions significantly influence infant motor development and the effect of mother–infant attachment on infant development is stronger than father–infant attachment. However, it is not well understood that whether the mother–infant or father–infant interaction has the confounding effect on infant motor development.AimsTo understand healthy infant motor development in Taiwan; and to investigate the effects of parenting roles and parent–child interactions on infant motor development.MethodsData were derived from the 1st through the 2nd waves of the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study-Pilot Database. Infants were classified into two categories (complete or incomplete development) according to their developmental milestones. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) and random effects models were used to clarify the possible long-term effects.ResultsThe rate of infants who completed development in 6 months was 30.50%; however the rate was increased in 18 month-old children (80.01%). A mother's perceived infant care competence was the most important factor for infant motor development. “Whether or not the infant was the only baby in the family” and “parent–child interaction” had slightly significant effect on infant motor development.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the mother's perceived competence must be strengthened and parent–infant interactions should be emphasized on a daily basis.