Introduce
Bonding with a baby is a vital part of early development as it allows for secure attachments with the primary caregivers. Attachment is the deep, lasting bond that forms between a child and their caregiver, beginning in the womb and continuing throughout childhood. This connection has a profound impact on a person’s mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, shaping their relationships both as a child and later as an adult.
This booklet aims to share supportive ideas to help parents in getting to know and bonding
with their baby both before they are born and beyond.
John Bowlby, a British Psychologist, emphasised that the caregiver-child relationship serves as the foundation for a child’s social connections and sense of self.
Schaffer & Emerson (1964) conducted an observational study of 60 children in Glasgow, Scotland, to understand how babies form and develop attachments. Watch the following video to find out more:
Bowlby researched secure and insecure attachment styles and highlighted how early interactions shape a child’s perception of self, their relationships and the world around them. The following image shows how attachment can influence what Bowlby referred to as ‘the internal working model’:
Develop
There is a growing body of evidence that skin-to-skin contact after the birth helps babies and their mothers to bond. Select each of the hotspots in the image to find out more:
Watch the video below to learn about the theory and practice of skin-to-skin:
You can read more about research into skin-to-skin contact here.
Reflect
Stop and Reflect: Take some time to think about babies and families you have worked with to reflect on the following questions:
– What does bonding mean to you, and why do you think it is so important?
– How might you identify a strong bond between a baby and their caregiver?
– What challenges might parents or caregivers face in bonding with their baby (e.g. mental health issues, stress or lack of support?)
Optional
Across GM there are parent and infant relationship services within each authority that aim to support the parent-infant relationship and are designed to promote early intervention. Tameside and Glossop Early Attachment Service (EAS) produced a series of health promotion videos to support with this aim. The following video focuses on sharing the importance of parent-baby bonding: