The Benefits of Alloparents: Why Parents Need a Team

A new study conducted among the Mbendjele people, a hunter-gatherer community in the Republic of Congo, found that children in this society have an average of eight caregivers in addition to their mothers, providing hands-on attention. This research, along with previous studies on hunter-gatherer communities, suggests that throughout human history, parents have relied on a network of support to care for infants and toddlers. In contrast, Western societies often place the burden of childcare on a single person, usually the mother, leading to feelings of isolation and potentially contributing to postpartum depression. The study highlights the importance of social support and calls for societal changes to provide parents with more support in raising children.