Have a limited number of consistent caregivers whom your baby relates to regularly. Howard, K., Martin, A., Berlin, L. J., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2011). Early mother-child separation, parenting, and child well-being in Early Head Start families. Attachment & human development, 13(1), 5-26. Howes, C., & Hamilton, C. (1993). The changing experience of child care: Changes in teachers and in teacher-child relationships and children’s social competence with peers. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 8, 1532. doi:10.1016/S0885 2006(05)80096-1
Having consistent caregivers, especially in the early years (before three years old) helps children develop secure attachments. Frequent disruptions in care and multiple disruptions in caregiving arrangements within a day can undermine children’s ability to establish secure expectations about whether and how their needs will be met. Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2016). From Best Practices to Breakthrough Impacts: A Science-Based Approach to Building a More Promising Future for Young Children and Families. Retrieved from www.developingchild.harvard.edu deSchipper, J., van IJzendoorn, M., & Tavecchio, L. (2004). Stability in centre day care: Relations with children’s well-being and problem behaviour in day care. Social Development, 13, 531-550. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9507.2004.00282.x
Studies in Singapore and abroad have shown that while attachments to their parents are primary, young children also benefit significantly from relationships with other responsive caregivers both within and outside the family. Consistent caregiving arrangements from caregivers who are responsive to the infants’ cues and needs are most important. This helps to ensure that children develop
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2016). From Best Practices to Breakthrough Impacts: A Science-Based Approach to Building a More Promising Future for Young Children and Families. Retrieved from www.developingchild.harvard.edu
Chan, Q.R., Lim, R., Yap, G., Elliot, J.M., Tan, S.H., Shu, M., Khoo, P.C. (2010). The infancy study: the impact of caregiving arrangements on early childhood development. Research Monograph No 12, Singapore Children’s Society.
Goossens, F., & Van IJzendoorn, M. (1990). Quality of Infants' Attachments to Professional Caregivers: Relation to Infant-Parent Attachment and Day-Care Characteristics. Child Development, 61(3), 832-837. doi:10.2307/1130967
Showing sensitivity to children's cues and responding positively also helps to build trust and stronger attachments. Research has demonstrated that children with secure attachments to their caregivers as infants showed better outcomes in social development such as empathy Kestenbaum, R., Farber, E., Ellen, A., & Sroufe L. A. (1989). Individual differences in empathy among preschoolers: Relation to attachment history. New Directions for Child Development, 44, 51-64. Sroufe, L. A. (1983). Infant-caregiver attachment and patterns of adaptation in preschool: The roots of maladaptation and competence. Minnesota Symposia on Child Psychology, 16, 41-83. Sroufe, L. A. (1983). Infant-caregiver attachment and patterns of adaptation in preschool: The roots of maladaptation and competence. Minnesota Symposia on Child Psychology, 16, 41-83. Thompson, R. A. (2008). Early attachment and later development: Familiar questions, new answers. In: Cassidy J, Shaver PR, eds. Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications. 2nd Ed. New York: Guilford Press, 348- 365. Egeland, B. & Carlson, B. (2004). Attachment and psychopathology. In: Atkinson L, Goldberg S, eds. Attachment issues in psychopathology and intervention. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 27-48. Lyons-Ruth, K., Easterbrooks, M. A, & Cibelli, C. D. (1997). Infant attachment strategies, infant mental lag, and maternal depressive symptoms: Predictors of internalizing and externalizing problems at age 7. Developmental Psychology, 33(4), 681-692.