Coiffure as Cradle.

Even in the present day, some peoples carry heavy loads balanced on their heads, the load usually distributed on the crown of the head using a cloth. Early humans may have carried loads in a similar way, but suspended by their hair, so that the load was distributed evenly over the entire scalp.

The practise of carrying infants by hair might account for the strong grip of babies, and the erect human stance. Where loads are carried on the head, it becomes important that the stress be directed down the spine to the leags, without need of muscular effort.

In particular, mothers might have carried babies in cradles of hair at their breasts, leaving them to feed at will. This would have freed up the mother's hands for gathering food, weaving necklaces and armlets, and any other necessary activities. If the resulting forward pull on the mother's neck was too great, a counterbalancing weight behind - perhaps another infant - would relieve the strain. Or the mother would tilt backwards slightly.

Mothers may have passed infants to males for weaning. The stronger males would have carried infants in similar cradles as the mothers. But the infants would feed from the male's mouth, eating food he had already chewed. To gain access to this food, a child might have learned to open the mouth of an otherwise busy male by tugging at moustache and beard.