Here at the Parent-Infant Foundation, we are calling for increased specialist support for early relationships between parents and their babies, to improve child health outcomes.
Social policy expert Steve McKay analysed the Millennium Cohort Study data for us, to explore how maternal attachment – the bond that develops between the mother and baby in the very earliest stages of the infant’s life – impacts childhood outcomes.
His analysis finds that higher maternal attachment scores are correlated with lower SDQ scores, which indicates fewer behaviour difficulties. Higher maternal attachment positively impacts infants, throughout their childhood. At age 3, stronger maternal attachment is associated with fewer parental concerns about language development and better potty-training outcomes. At age 11, children with stronger maternal attachment are more likely to enjoy school and follow regular bedtimes.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
