Dear Gen,
Is babysitting natural? Some of my more “down to earth” friends have discouraged me from using a babysitter.
- Bobby G.
Bobby, Would you have been more likely to look for babysitters on Sittercity.com if it were called AllomaternalCare.com instead?
The term Allomaternal Care may not roll off the tongue, but it is essentially the scientific term for babysitting when it is applied to animals in the wild. Several animals do exhibit babysitting behaviors naturally, and it will come as no surprise that these include some of the smartest ones out there - bottlenose dolphins, beluga whales, baboons, monkeys and chimpanzees.
There are a variety of theories as to why these animals (who probably don’t have the same crazy schedules as we do) choose to have babysitters. Some scientists theorize that the babysitters are learning to be parents themselves (a theory backed up by the fact that when a dolphin mother has a babysitter, she doesn’t go off and forage, instead she stays relatively close and uses the time to socialize). Others, including a naturalist at the Shedd Aquarium here in Chicago who works with the beluga whales, suggest that sometimes the parent just needs a little break.
And it seems that even among animals, some babysitters are better than others. For example, my favorite whale at the Shedd is Naya. Not only is she one of the most vocal singers (she and I are considering doing a concert together), but she’s also one of the best babysitters. The aquarium scientists introduce her first to new babies, including the recent birth just a few months ago. If she were a babysitter on Sittercity, she’d have several 5-star reviews.
It also seems that dolphins and whales follow a similar process to human in picking their babysitters. They are very wary with newborns and trust babysitters more and more as calves get older and “imprint” their mothers. Also, experienced moms are more likely to use a babysitter than first time moms.
So you can safely tell your friends that babysitting is perfectly natural and feel free to ask the dolphins for interview tips next chance you get.
Have a swimming time!
