The present study is the first exploratory step of a larger investigation focusing on
the influence of culturally-related caretaking practices on motor development. Four
Bambara infants between 4 and 23 weeks of age were observed for two full days with a
paper-and-pencil event-recording technique and with video films. We took down the
infant's 'postural time-table', i.e., the different spatial positions experienced
during everyday life (prone, supine, sitting, standing...) and the different
postural adjustments required by maternal manipulations during caretaking and transportation.
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