Forty per cent of babies and toddlers missing out on crucial bond with parents

Forty per cent of babies and toddlers in the UK do not have a strong attachment to their parents and have a greater risk of developing both educational and social problems later on in life, a report by Sutton Trust has revealed.

Children with weak parental attachment were found to be more likely to suffer from aggression and hyperactivity when they get older, as well as have a higher chance of leaving school without further education, employment or training.

Sutton Trust is urging the Government to ensure health visitors and children’s centres do more to help parents create strong bonds with their children.

Problems with bonding was found to affect families from all social classes, but where families have multiple problems up to two-thirds of children have weak parental attachment. The report finds that boys’ behaviour is more affected than girls by early parenting.

Behavioural problems

Conor Ryan, director of research at the Sutton Trust said: “Better bonding between parents and babies could lead to more social mobility, as there is such a clear link to education, behaviour and future employment.

“More support from health visitors, children’s centres and local authorities in helping parents improve how they bond with young children could play a role in narrowing the education gap.”

Davina Ludlow, director of daynurseries.co.uk, a leading online guide to nurseries and children’s centres, welcomed the recommendations, saying : “Nurseries and children’s centres are the perfect place to promote the importance of bonding and attachment from a very young age, by taking advantage of their close relationship with parents.”

“Yet while the report highlights the vital role of children’s centres and nurseries, the swathe of cuts in funding are forcing many to close.

Wake-up call

“This should be a wake-up call for Government - funding for nurseries and children’s centres must be ring-fenced.”

Hundreds of children’s centres have closed since the ring-fencing for Sure Start children’s centres was withdrawn a few years and many are under threat.

The review into international studies of attachment, Baby Bond, described how simple and often instinctive actions can be the key to babies successfully bonding with their parent. Suggested actions included holding a baby lovingly, responding to their needs and providing reassurance to babies in the form of warm smiles and soothing tones.

Of the 40 per cent of children with weak bonds to their parents, 25 per cent avoided their parents when they were upset, and 15 per cent resisted their parents because they caused them distress.

Parents who showed signs of being insecurely attached themselves or living in poverty or with poor mental health were shown to be most likely to find it hardest to bond with their babies.

Insecure attachment

The research found insecure attachment is associated with poorer language and behaviour before school and that securely attached children are more resilient to poverty, family instability, parental stress and depression.

Boys growing up in poverty are two and a half times less likely to display behaviour problems at school if they formed secure attachments with parents in their early years.

Obesity can be another consequence of weak bonds between mother and child, with research showing the child is more likely to become obese as they enter adolescence.

Jane Waldfogel, professor of social work and public affairs at Columbia University and a visiting professor at the London School of Economics, said:

“Parents are an important influence on young children’s development and their chances in life. Mothers and fathers influence development through the resources they invest in their children, and the home learning environment they offer. But the emotional bonds they forge with their children also matter. A secure bond or attachment to the parent helps the child manage their behaviour and learn.

Reducing risk

“Policy can promote secure attachment by reducing the broader risk factors that undermine parents’ ability to care for their children.

Supporting families who are at risk for poor parenting ideally starts early – at birth or even before.”

The report also calls on health visitors and other health services to do more to support attachment in the early years and emphasizes the importance of parenting programmes for higher risk families with babies and toddlers.