How to Raise a Securely Attached Child
Learn about the different attachment styles., Read and respond to your baby’s cues., Hold and touch your baby., Interact warmly with your baby., Make eye contact., Recognize when your baby is overstimulated., Don’t worry about being perfect.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Learn about the different attachment styles.
There are four main attachment styles and learning about these may help you to bond with your baby.
You can also consider your own traits and upbringing to determine your own attachment style.
The main attachment styles are:
Secure Ambivalent Avoidant Disorganized -
Step 2: Read and respond to your baby’s cues.
Teach your baby that they can trust you to take care of them by learning to interpret their signals.
Pay attention to how they act when they are hungry, tired, and wet.
When they need something, respond as quickly as you can.It may take you a few weeks to start understanding your baby’s cries and other cues.
Keep trying, and trust yourself to get it eventually. , Babies need lots of physical contact for healthy development.
Hold your baby as often as you can, and ask other people, such as your partner or a relative, to hold them when you can’t.
Consider buying a sling or another type of carrier so you can keep your baby with you all the time., Smile at your baby, sing to them, and play with them often.
If your baby makes noises to get your attention, respond by cooing back at them.
Positive interactions tell your baby that they are important to you, which will make them feel safe and valued.Even small babies can sense when you’re impatient or unhappy, so do your best to stay warm and positive when you interact with your little one.
Also keep in mind that a lack of interaction can have negative consequences.
Make sure that you do not let your baby cry for too long without holding them and providing comfort., Eye contact helps you and your baby bond.
Encourage your baby to look at your face, and let them look away before you do.
Smile and talk to your baby while you are making eye contact.Don’t try to force your baby to make eye contact.
Looking at a person’s face can be intense for a baby, and they may not be able to do it for very long. , You don’t need to interact with your baby all the time.
Infants’ nervous systems aren’t fully developed, so they can’t always handle a great deal of stimulation.
If your baby acts cranky or doesn’t want to engage, they might need a break., No parent is able to know exactly what their baby wants all the time.
It’s okay if you occasionally interpret your baby’s cries wrong or can’t pick them up immediately.
If you do your best and keep trying to understand them, it won’t damage their attachment to you. -
Step 3: Hold and touch your baby.
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Step 4: Interact warmly with your baby.
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Step 5: Make eye contact.
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Step 6: Recognize when your baby is overstimulated.
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Step 7: Don’t worry about being perfect.
Detailed Guide
There are four main attachment styles and learning about these may help you to bond with your baby.
You can also consider your own traits and upbringing to determine your own attachment style.
The main attachment styles are:
Secure Ambivalent Avoidant Disorganized
Teach your baby that they can trust you to take care of them by learning to interpret their signals.
Pay attention to how they act when they are hungry, tired, and wet.
When they need something, respond as quickly as you can.It may take you a few weeks to start understanding your baby’s cries and other cues.
Keep trying, and trust yourself to get it eventually. , Babies need lots of physical contact for healthy development.
Hold your baby as often as you can, and ask other people, such as your partner or a relative, to hold them when you can’t.
Consider buying a sling or another type of carrier so you can keep your baby with you all the time., Smile at your baby, sing to them, and play with them often.
If your baby makes noises to get your attention, respond by cooing back at them.
Positive interactions tell your baby that they are important to you, which will make them feel safe and valued.Even small babies can sense when you’re impatient or unhappy, so do your best to stay warm and positive when you interact with your little one.
Also keep in mind that a lack of interaction can have negative consequences.
Make sure that you do not let your baby cry for too long without holding them and providing comfort., Eye contact helps you and your baby bond.
Encourage your baby to look at your face, and let them look away before you do.
Smile and talk to your baby while you are making eye contact.Don’t try to force your baby to make eye contact.
Looking at a person’s face can be intense for a baby, and they may not be able to do it for very long. , You don’t need to interact with your baby all the time.
Infants’ nervous systems aren’t fully developed, so they can’t always handle a great deal of stimulation.
If your baby acts cranky or doesn’t want to engage, they might need a break., No parent is able to know exactly what their baby wants all the time.
It’s okay if you occasionally interpret your baby’s cries wrong or can’t pick them up immediately.
If you do your best and keep trying to understand them, it won’t damage their attachment to you.
About the Author
Stephen Hall
With a background in lifestyle and practical guides, Stephen Hall brings 1 years of hands-on experience to every article. Stephen believes in making complex topics accessible to everyone.
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