4 ms·
One-off anecdotal proof exists as well: I'm at a recent multiple family gathering at a friend's house. All the Dads are playing a hand of cards, the collective
by jroseattle 14y ago
One-off anecdotal proof exists as well:
I'm at a recent multiple family gathering at a friend's house. All the Dads are playing a hand of cards, the collective of kids playing in the basement. A quick yelp is released, and we all look up, everyone attentively listening for the follow-on cry. The secondary, longer cry happens and one of the Dads acknowledges: "that's mine, I'll be right back."
This is standard operating procedure, and has evolved as the kids have gotten older. Now, when our 10-11-12 year olds let out a welp, the Dad-in-question will generally yell out: "everything OK down there? Does anyone need help?"
And as I've spent more time with others' offspring, I can detect their voices (and cries) as well. It's environmental.
- gregpilling 14y agoI have four kids and it works with me too. It is a funny thing, to be at a large kids' birthday party and then suddenly your ears can pick out the sound that your child is making amongst all the other noise. It also helps that my kids all sound similar in how they cry, so I think it is partly training (hearing the kid cry over the years) and genetics (my kids all sound similar when they cry). I find the other parents can also distinguish their children. It has never seemed to me to be a mother or father dominant trait. An involved parent trait possibly, but not gender related.
- lostlogin 14y agoI'd also note that parents notice a distressed child before non-parents do - at least in our group of friends. Hypersensitised hearing I think.