The phases of the attachment bond

If you are a father or mother, it is likely that the concept of attachment sounds familiar to you. It is about the emotional and affective bond that is established between the baby and its parents during the first years of life. This attachment is important to strengthen it little by little so that the little one feels the affection and love from their caregivers. Attachment goes through a series of phases coinciding with the development and growth of the baby itself. Then we will talk to you in a more detailed way about these phases and their importance.

THE PHASES OF ATTACHMENT

Before starting to cite the different phases of the attachment bond, we must begin by saying that there are four types of attachment: avoidant, secure, ambivalent, and disorganized attachment.

These kinds of attachment correspond as the child grows and consequently develops the various social and emotional capacities that will be worth it both in the short and medium term. In the same way, there are four phases of attachment that we will explain to you below:

• • At the moment of birth, parents establish a strong bond with their baby . However, contrary to popular belief, the newborn shows interest in people in general without regard to their parents or caregivers. As the months go by, the baby begins to perceive and know little by little the love of his parents.

• • From 3 and 4 months, babies begin to show clear preferences for those who are closest to them . During this stage of their life they begin to clearly distinguish attachment figures from unknown ones.

• • When the baby reaches one month of age the attachment is fully present . He feels much safer with the beings he knows and rejects those he does not know. The bond of attachment is strengthened in such a way that when separated from his parents he tends to cry and scream. It can be said that from 6 months to a year of life, the baby already fully knows who his parents are.

• From one year of age the child begins to look for some autonomy although he continues to be totally attached to the parents. The child needs to explore the world around him, although he still needs the figure of the parents, especially when he meets other people he does not know. During the first year of age, the bond of attachment is fully established and becomes stronger.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP THE BOND OF ATTACHMENT?

It is fully demonstrated that it is essential to develop the bond of attachment from the time the baby is born. The child must perceive that his parents are by his side at all times, giving him the love he needs. Thanks to the aforementioned attachment, the child is able to develop without great problems a series of social skills that will serve him for a lifetime, such as empathy or respect. Therefore, from the moment of birth, do not hesitate to give him all the love possible since in this way the bond of attachment is strengthened to the maximum.

There are many parents who today do not give the importance that the figure of attachment really has. Over the years the child grows up without having in mind a series of social values, leading to various emotional problems . On the contrary, and as you have seen above, children who have an attachment bond with their parents will grow up with a series of values ​​that are really important for any human being.