Final answer:
To determine if a baby can stay with their mother, factors such as the Apgar score after birth, which assesses vital health indicators, the mother's provision of comfort and security, and the parent-child relationship quality, are considered critical.
Step-by-step explanation:
Determinants for Mother-Child Bonding
The connection between a mother and her child is essential for the child's development. Research by pioneers like Harry Harlow, John Bowlby, and Mary Ainsworth has shown that maternal-infant bonding is about more than just providing nourishment; it involves feelings of comfort and security. Harlow's experiments emphasized the importance of a comfort-providing mother figure over one that merely provides food as critical for psychosocial development. Ainsworth's 'Strange Situation' procedure revealed different styles of attachment between mothers and infants, suggesting the influence of the caregiver's behavior on a child's attachment pattern.
The Apgar test, performed immediately after birth, is crucial to assess the newborn's condition and to determine whether the baby can stay with the mother or needs immediate medical attention. The test looks at five criteria: skin color, heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone, and respiration—each scored between 0 and 2. High scores indicate a newborn is doing well, while lower scores may signal distress.
Aside from the Apgar score, the proximity to parents and the quality of the parent-child relationship are pivotal to a child's well-being. In the context of divorce, children benefit from living or having joint arrangements with the gender-similar parent, suggesting the importance of a nurturing environment for proper emotional and social development.