12/15/2021
Do you know the because of the baby putting his hand on our mouth while we breastfeed him??
According to Zeljko Loparic (professor of philosophy at Unicamp and Winnicott scholar), in his mother's lap, when everything goes well (there is foster care and exchange of looks), the child learns the notion of ′′ mutuality ". The baby realizes that mom does something for him. Give him something (milk, snuggle, affection, safety, relief,...).
And over time, the baby has the desire to give something to the mother too.
One of the first signs of mutuality is very interesting. Winnicott when he watches the babies that suck, realizes that too soon they start putting their finger inside their mother's mouth.
The baby is getting something from the mother and wants to spontaneously give something to her. Winnicott calls this ′′ cross identification ". The baby identifies with the mother in this ′′ give and receive ". And this, according to Winnicott, is fundamental to the beginning of a healthy social life.
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