Maternal Infant Bonding & Its Effects on Development

Talking to your newborn helps the baby bond.

Bonds are the emotional glue that hold relationships together, and the mother-child bond is the most important bond in the baby's developing life. According to child psychologist Dr. Bruce Perry, the original bond or attachment between mother and child prepares the baby to bond to others throughout life. Without this primary attachment, every future bond the child attempts is in jeopardy. For the baby, bonding starts at birth. Most babies are born ready to bond, but new mothers find themselves bombarded with a variety of feelings: joy, exhaustion, wonder, pain and anxiety about what comes next.

Observation and Response

The first step to mother-child bonding is observation. Watch your baby for changes in behavior. Over the first few days of life, you'll notice the subtle shifts that precede crying, giving you the chance to comfort the baby. You'll see the signs that signal when the baby's tummy is full and when to stop feeding. You'll notice changes in the child's skin color in response to heat or cold, giving you the chance to warm or cool the room. While these don't seem to be deeply emotional issues, responding to your child's needs is the first way she knows that she is safe and cared for.

Eye Contact

Babies are born slightly nearsighted, with an immature lens system. This means that the baby sees best between 8 and 10 inches from his face. He also sees high-contrast items best. This means that his eyes focus on your hairline, the outline of your face and your eyes. Mutual gazing forms an important part of infant bonding. Talking to the baby during mutual gazing builds on the bonding experience. As the baby develops, eye control advances. Bonding intensifies as the child learns to follow Mom's face and focus on her as a person.

Bonding and Development

According to Dr. Perry, 90 percent of human brain development takes place in the first three years of life. When the child feels secure, and has all of her needs met, she is able to focus on language, intellectual and motor development. The healthy bond gives the child a lifelong developmental advantage. Bonding with mother is the single most important factor in overall development.

Special-Needs Bonding

Sometimes bonding becomes difficult. Babies with special needs require special bonding experiences. The Texas School for the Deaf and Blind advocates the use of touch when bonding with a deaf or blind infant. Premature babies also respond well with skin-to-skin contact with their mothers. The March of Dimes advocates "Kangaroo Care" for preemies. This procedure places a diapered newborn against the bare chest of his mother. Hearing the mother's heartbeat and absorbing her warmth calms and regulates the baby's own system and provides an excellent bonding experience.

References

• Kids Health: Bonding with Your Baby; February 2008
• Scholastic: Bonding and Attachment in Maltreated Children; Dr. Bruce Perry
• Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired: The Importance of Touch in Parent-Infant Bonding; Gigi Newton; July 2002
• The Smith Kettlewell Eye Research Institute: What Can My Baby See?; Russell D. Hamer, PhD
• The March Of Dines: Kangaroo Care; August 2009