ABSTRACT
In previous work we described an extensive pattern of multiple caregiv ing for a group of foragers, the Efe, living in the Ituri Forest of Zaire (Tronick et al. 1987, 1989). This pattern begins at birth with community members typically holding and/or nursing the infant for several hours before returning him or her to the mother (Morelli et al. 1987). The high levels of care and interaction between infants and individuals other than mothers continue for the infant's first 6 months of life, and provide the majority of daytime caregiving he or she receives. We believe that the Efe infant's early involvement with a variety of community members may foster the development of social capacities for relating to many different individuals, and the development of multiple secure bases for attachment (Tronick et al. 1985).
