Previous research in laboratory settings has found that preschool girls show more interest in babies than do preschool boys. To validate these findings in natural settings, 71 children at 3 and 5 years of age were observed by their parents as the children interacted with babies in their daily lives. Each child was observed with three different non-sibling infants. Parents answered three multiple choice questions about the percentage of time that the child interacted with the baby, the degree of interest shown in the baby, and the amount of nurturance shown to the baby. In addition, the parents recorded child behaviors, such as kissing, talking to, playing with, helping, touching, or holding the baby. The parents also indicated the baby's age and gender, and described the setting and others present. Prior to observing their children with the babies, the parents completed questionnaires soliciting demographic information and information about their child's temperamental characteristics. The study found that girls spent more time with, showed more interest in, devoted more nurturance toward, and interacted more with babies than did boys, particularly among the 5-year-old children. Children without younger siblings interacted more with the babies than did children with siblings. (AC)