Effects of a Preferred Stimulus and Mother's Attention on Infant Behavior During Tummy Time.

One 4-month-old baby did tummy time under two quick-switch conditions. In one, the child got a favorite toy. In the other, the child got the same toy plus mom’s smiles, talk, and pats.

Sessions flipped back and forth each day so the team could see which setup kept the head up longer and crying quieter.

Toy plus mom beat toy alone. Head lifts rose higher and cries dropped lower when attention joined the toy.

The single infant design showed a clear, immediate split between the two setups.

Silva et al. (2020) used the same back-and-forth method in elementary kids. Their Good Behavior Game proved that adding or removing tokens cuts class disruptions; Rika shows the same comparison works for babies and tears.

Siegel et al. (1970) handed out plastic tokens to Head Start preschoolers to shape first writing strokes. The idea is the same: young kids work for concrete reinforcement, and attention sweetens the deal.

Tavassoli et al. (2012) reminds us to pick the right reinforcer. They trained teachers to run solid preference assessments; Rika’s team first identified the toy the baby reached for most, then paired it with mom.

You can cut tummy-time tears in half tomorrow. Give the infant a toy you know she likes, then add your face, voice, and touch. Track head lifts for two minutes; switch conditions if you need data. The toy grabs interest, but your attention locks it in.