As the Encyclopedia of Children’s Health explains, attachment theory states that the bond between infants and their primary caregivers has the greatest influence on many aspects of infant development, including:
- Coping skills
- The ability to establish relationships
- The development of the infant’s personality
According to attachment theory, infants organize their behavior around caregivers, who serve as the basis for physiological, emotional, cognitive and social growth. In their first year, infants reach many milestones in their emotional and psychological development:
- First two months: Kind, sensitive and reliable responses of the caregiver to the child lay the foundation for attachment.
- Two months to seven months: Infants interact differently with caregivers than with strangers, but still don’t indicate a strong preference.
- Four to six months: Infants begin to anticipate how caregivers will respond to them when they are upset or unhappy.
- Seven months to one year: Infants indicate a clear preference for their caregivers, wariness of strangers and the onset of separation anxiety.
Temperament Differences Between “Easy” and “Difficult” Babies
Some children have a more challenging temperament than others, as Parents magazine points out. A Harvard University researcher determined that 40 percent of babies respond calmly to such stimuli as light and noise, while 15 percent to 20 percent of infants have a “more reactive temperament,” causing them to become upset by such stimuli and more difficult to soothe.
However, while parenting may not be effective in changing a baby’s temperament, thoughtful and consistent parenting does impact the temperament of older children. Parents can devise strategies to minimize the impact of a temperamental baby on families. Most importantly, parents and other family members can recognize that the cause of an infant’s behavior is beyond the child’s control.
How an Infant’s Temperament Matches Their Environment
A study reported in PLoS One found that children who exhibit high emotionality in their earliest years may need early intervention to avoid potential “adverse developmental pathways.” The study highlights the connection between an infant’s environment and their emotional and behavioral problems in childhood and later in life.
A child’s temperament can be affected by their family and social environment:
- Parental separation and single parenthood have been associated with children’s temperament, emotional regulation and well-being.
- Children who have difficult temperaments are more likely to suffer adjustment problems if their parents experience marital problems.
- Children whose families are disadvantaged or who live in low-income neighborhoods are more likely to have difficult temperaments.
Signs of Disruption to Typical Mental Health Development in Infants
Diagnosing potential mental illness in infants is challenging because symptoms must be viewed in the context of their personal history, caregiving team and other unique circumstances. The Child Mind Institute lists 11 warning signs that parents should watch for when assessing their child’s mental health. These are the signs that apply to infants:
- Periods of sadness or withdrawal that last for more than two weeks
- Doing serious harm to themselves
- Overwhelming feelings of fear that arise suddenly and unexpectedly
- Wanting to hurt others and getting into fights
- Out-of-control behavior that may harm the child or others
- Loss of appetite or unwarranted concern about their appearance
- Intense fear and worrying that impedes normal activities
- Difficulty concentrating or inability to stay still
- Drastic mood swings and changes in behavior or personality