There has been a lot of recent research into the social behaviour of very young children, looking at how infants and mothers relate to each other. Two points which have been highlighted are that it is the baby who is active in the early stages and that mothers are usually very sensitive to the child's actions and follow the child's lead. Joint gaze is an important basis for communication ie that both individuals are looking at the same thing. The child can then associate what the mother is saying to whatever is the focus of their mutual attention. After the first year the mother tends to take the lead in looking at new things and the baby follows her interest.
Vocalisation also comes in bursts.
Mothers tend to fill these pauses by patting or cooing. Mother and baby usually become very good at taking turns because the mother adapts her behaviour to suit the baby, and in this way an important foundation for communication is laid down. Achieving this kind of rhythm is, however closely linked to seeing and hearing. Tactile turntaking is not so common after the child is weaned. They reflect the natural ways in which mothers gear their talk to the child's interest, attention and limited understanding of language.