Which statement about bonding behaviors is true?

• A. They involve feeding alone
• B. They involve proximity and interaction
• C. They require no infant cues
• D. They occur only at bedtime

Answer: (B)

Bonding is built through close physical closeness and responsive, back-and-forth interaction between caregiver and infant. When a caregiver and infant are near each other, make eye contact, smile, talk softly, and respond promptly to the infant’s cues, they establish trust and security, forming a strong emotional bond. This active engagement goes beyond merely feeding; feeding can support bonding, but it’s only one mode of connection and doesn’t capture the bidirectional nature of bonding. Bonding relies on recognizing and responding to infant cues, and it occurs across many everyday interactions, not just at a set time like bedtime. So, proximity and interaction best describe bonding behaviors.