The Science Behind the Bringing Home Baby Workshop
The following is a summary of the research on Bringing Baby Home as presented in the Bringing Baby Home educator's manual:
"John Gottman began his research on couples having children in 1985, following 20 previous years of research on couples and marriage. The Bringing Baby Home Study began in 1999 as a small pilot study designed by John M. Gottman, PhD and Alyson F. Shapiro, PhD. This study later grew into a full-scale research evaluation that was concluded in 2005, when the youngest of the research participants was 2 1/2 to 3-years-old. The Bringing Baby Home program has been evaluated through random clinical trial research involving 159 families. Each family was randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group received both a two-day Bringing Baby Home workshop and subsequently, attended 12 weeks of a support group. A second group only received the two-day Bringing Baby Home workshop that they attended shortly before the birth of their baby. The third group, the control group, did not receive either the Bringing Baby Home workshop or the support groups. The control group was offered the workshop following the completion of the study..."
Parent-Baby Relationships
Parents who participated in the Bringing Baby Home program demonstrated enhanced sensitivity and responsiveness to their infant's cues, with this effect being especially notable among fathers.
These parents also exhibited improved co-parenting skills, collaborating more effectively during family playtime with their 3-month-old babies.
Infants whose parents took part in the Bringing Baby Home program displayed more smiles and laughter during family play, regardless of whether they were 3 or 12 months old.
Additionally, indicators of secure father-infant attachment were rated more favorably in families who participated in the program.
**Infant Development & Temperament**
One-year-old infants whose parents completed the Bringing Baby Home program showed fewer language delays.
Mothers in the program also reported that their babies exhibited less distress when faced with limitations, such as having a toy out of reach.
One-year-old babies in the program group responded more positively to their fathers' soothing efforts, likely reflecting both the quality of father-infant interactions and infant temperament
Father Involvement
Fathers who took part in the Bringing Baby Home program reported higher levels of involvement in parenting and felt more satisfied and valued for their contributions.
The quality of father-baby interactions was notably better among fathers who participated in the program.
Couple Relationship Quality
Couples who participated in the Bringing Baby Home program experienced high and stable relationship quality. In contrast, those who did not participate showed a decline in relationship quality during the first year after their baby's birth.
Furthermore, couples who took the program expressed less hostility during conflict discussions.
Parent Mental Health
Mothers who participated in the Bringing Baby Home program exhibited fewer symptoms of postpartum depression, the baby blues, and other signs of psychological distress, such as anxiety.
Fathers in the program also showed fewer signs of depression or anxiety.