The Significance of Attachment in the Emotional Development of an Infant

Your baby's first and most important relationship is with you. From the day he is born, you begin bonding with him. Every touch, cuddle or kiss helps him feel secure, which leads to an attachment. According to the University of Washington, this healthy and stable relationship affects his future learning, language skills and social-emotional development.

  1. Meet His Needs

    • Babies are born emotionally "unattached," without any strong connections to other people, according to educational publisher Scholastic. A baby builds an attachment as you comfort him and meet his needs. When your little one cries and you feed him, change him or rock him, you are showing him that he can trust the world around him. "It is impossible to spoil a little baby," says Susan Spieker, director of the University of Washington's Center on Infant Mental Health and Development. Don't worry that giving your child attention when he needs it will make him expect to be catered to his whole life. Inconsistent responses to your baby's cries only make him try harder to get your attention and cause him not to trust you.

    Smiles and Gentle Touches

    • Attachment forms from a variety of interactions with your baby. Touch is critical because babies respond to skin-to-skin contact, according to KidsHealth, a program of nonprofit children's health organization Nemours. Hold him against your chest and stroke him gently. Make eye-to-eye contact with your baby often and make different facial expressions. Watch as he tries to imitate you, one of a baby's first social behaviors. Your baby will enjoy the sound of your voice, so read, talk or sing to him throughout the day. All of these bonding interactions help your baby feel secure and loved, building that enduring relationship called attachment. This first relationship with you helps him develop the capacity to form other healthy relationships in his life.

    Interacting Brings Pleasure

    • Your baby's brain is designed to get pleasure from human interactions. The parts of the brain that respond to emotional cues such as facial expressions and touch are closely connected to the parts of the brain that mediate pleasure. When children have formed secure attachments, they get pleasure from interacting with others. They enjoy pleasing others, but especially those they have an attachment with. The strongest reward for a child is attention and approval from a parent or caregiver, so it can be a helpful tool when teaching your child social behaviors as he grows into a toddler. When your baby feels securely attached, he also feels safe enough to explore the world around him, helping him learn.

    Problems with Bonding

    • Bonding doesn't always happen right away with your baby for a variety of reasons. Sometimes mothers feel a range of emotions due to hormones after birth, or they are dealing with post-partum depression. Other times, your baby may have some health concerns that seem overwhelming or that keep him in the hospital longer. If you are feeling exhausted by the arrival of your baby and feel that you haven't been able to bond with him, discuss your concerns with your doctor. It can help to share your feelings with other parents of infants or take a class for new parents. According to KidsHealth, as long as you are meeting your baby's basic needs at first, over time you will begin to feel more comfortable with him and begin to build an attachment.

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