Bear child, mother's fifth (4)
I believe the answer is:
tote
'bear' is the definition.
(I've seen this in other clues)
'child mother's fifth' is the wordplay.
'child' becomes 'tot' (term for a young child).
'mother's fifth' becomes 'e' (5th letter of 'mother').
'tot'+'e'='TOTE'
(Other definitions for tote that I've seen before include "Carry (a gun)" , "Carry or shoulder" , "Form of betting: carry" , "record of stakeholders' investments" , "move" .)