ATTACHMENTBetween Parents

and Infants

Cecily Gordon

What Is Attachment? According to the textbook, Lifespan

Development, attachment is defined as “the emotional tie to a parent experienced by an infant, from which the child derives security” (Boyd, D. et al, 2015).

Understanding both parent and infant bonds to each other is necessary to understand attachment.

Image 1: Parents engaging with infant

Parents Attachment to Infants

In order for a parent to bond with their infant, a pattern called synchrony is required. Synchrony is a two-way

behavior between the parent and baby. For example, if a baby cries, a parent should respond to the child’s needs.

(Boyd, D. et al, 2015).

Attachment to the infant occurs over time and is developed through attention and patterns.

Image 2: Father responding to baby’s cries

Studies show that emotional availability by the primary caregiver is crucial to necessary to grow a secure attachment. The caregiver

must be willing to put their infants needs in front of their own.

A caregiver should be present to respond to the infants verbal and non-verbal cues. This act is called contingent responsiveness.

Caregiver’s Emotional Responsiveness

Image 3: Mother laughing with baby

Infants Attachment

to Their Parents

Attachment to parents is developed through four phases, as suggested by Bowlby. (Boyd, D. et al, 2015).

Phase One: Birth to 3 months – babies look for attention by crying, clinging, and cuddling.

Phase Two: 3 to 6 months – babies focus more on individuals whom they spend time with rather than strangers they don’t know as well.

Image 4: Parents boding with baby

Infants Attachment

to Their Parents

Phase Three: 6 to 24 months – infants should to caregivers, such as parents or babysitters. When under stress, they search for favored individuals.

Phase Four: 24+ months – children imagine how their actions may affect their relationships with their caregivers. This lasts throughout life.

Image 5: Baby sleeping with parents

Behaviours of Attachment

Clinging to a desired individual when around strangers.

Stranger Anxiety Separation Anxiety

Crying or acting out when separated from a desired individual

Infants emotions can be guided by facial expressions of people around them. This is called social referencing. (Boyd, D. et al, 2015).

Image 6: Child clinging to father

Attachment Classification

Secure AttachmentInfants are open to

separation from the parent but looks to them

when stressed.

Ambivalent AttachmentInfants are not willing to

separate from parent. The parents return does not

comfort them.

Avoidant Attachment

Infants avoid parents and show no favor to

them over other adults.

Disorganized/DisorientedAttachment

Infant appears uncertain, may move towards their

parent but avoids eye contact.

Contributing FactorsMarital and Socioeconomic Status•If an infant has parents who are married and living together, they are more likely to have a secure attachment.

•This may be due to other characteristics, such as financial aspects, education, or age. A couple that is financially stable, has a proper education, and is middle-aged is less likely to divorce. This leads to secure attachments with their children.

Mental Health

•Infants with a depressed mother seem to show less positive emotions. Insecure attachments may be formed, possibly leading to later problems such as aggression.

•A mother with depression does not guarantee a poor attachment. It depends on the “mother-infant interactions”. (Boyd, D. et al, 2015).

Image 7: Dollar sign

Attachment Quality Consequences

- Studies show that infants with secure attachments lead to positive behaviors when socializing, have higher self-esteem, and are more successful.

- A study suggested that attachment can predict sexual dysfunction later in life.

- Infants with secure attachment will often create the same with their children when they are adults.

- Attachment relationships are the foundation for future relationships with other people.

My Attachment

As a child, I had a secure attachment with my parents. I was able to separate from my parents but looked to them in

times of need.

Since then, I would say that I am able to make strong social

connections, and have so far been successful.

My Future Attachment

In the future, I look forward to having kids. The knowledge I

gained from this presentation will help me form an attachment with

my babies.

Hopefully, since I had a strong, stable attachment with my

parents, that will help me with future attachments with my kids.

Relevance to My Profession

My long-term goal is to end up working as a nurse in maternity

or pediatrics.

Having the knowledge from this presentation will not only assist

me when interacting with infants, it will help me teach new mothers

the importance of building a relationship with their babies.

Figure 8: Nurse teaching mother

References

Bee, H., Boyd, D., Johnson, P. (2015). Lifespan Development. Don Mills, Ontario: Pearson Canada Inc.

Image one retrieved from: http://kera-kids.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/parents_landing_page_01.jpg

Image two retrieved from: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/17/article-2310354-1956C8F5000005DC-838_634x592.jpg

Image three retrieved from: https://www.mplex.org/Portals/6/images/Site%20-%20Page%20Thumbnails/Mother-Infant-Page-Thumbnail.jpg

Image four retrieved from: http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1316346/images/o-BABIES-facebook.jpg

Image five retrieved from: http://sites.williams.edu/les4/author/les4/

Image six retrieved from: http://images.agoramedia.com/wte3.0/gcms/Toddler-Stranger-Anxiety-article.jpg

Image seven retrieved from: http://img.wikinut.com/img/3nqh-9zavxssp6nn/jpeg/0/Dollar-Sign.jpeg

Image eight retrieved from: https://mfk1779.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/17.jpg