The caregiver is the most important person to the young child. They feed and watch over the child, give the child affection, communicate with the child, and responds to the child's needs. Often the caregiver is the child's mother. The mother is the primary – most important – caregiver to a young infant who is breastfeeding. The primary caregiver may also be the father or another family member. When both parents are sick or absent, the child's caregiver may be a relative or neighbour.